Despite the advancements of technology in agriculture, hunger remains one of the most persistent problem. 1 in every 10 people across the planet are suffering from Hunger, which amounts to approximately 673 million people in the world are living in chronic hunger. 

Global Hunger Index: Top 10 hungriest countries in the world, India under serious category

The Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2023 ranked India in the 111th position among the 125 countries with a score of 28.7, as per a report released on Thursday (Oct 12). Reacting to the report, India's Ministry of Women and Child Development called the rankings as "flawed", adding that they failed to depict the true position of India.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka were ranked at 102nd, 81st, 69th, and 60th respectively by the GHI. In 2022, India was placed at the rank of 107 out of 121.

“The GHI continues to be a flawed measure of hunger and does not reflect India’s true position. The index is an erroneous measure of hunger and suffers from serious methodological issues. Three out of the four indicators used for the calculation of the index are related to the health of children and cannot be representative of the entire population. The fourth and most important indicator Proportion of Undernourished population (PoU) is based on an opinion poll conducted on a very small sample size of 3,000," said the ministry, in a statement.

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The highest regional hunger levels were recorded by South Asia and Africa south of the Sahara as the two had a GHI score of 27.

The report, prepared by German NGO Welt Hunger Hilfe and Irish NGO Concern Worldwide, claimed that the child wasting rate of India was 18.7 per cent, which is the highest on the global level and signalled acute undernutrition.

<h2>Child-wasting figures&nbsp;consistently under 7.2%: India</h2>

Wasting is measured on the basis of the children's weight relative to their height. The undernourishment rate in India has been recorded at 16.6 per cent while the country's under-five mortality rate was 3.1 per cent.

The Indian government, while pointing towards its Poshan Tracker, stated that child-wasting figures have been consistently under 7.2 per cent, which contrasts the GHI's 18.7 per cent.

WATCH |&nbsp;India inflation dips tp 5.02% | India's retail inflation sees significant September dip | WION

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The Global Hunger Index is a tool tracking and measuring hunger comprehensively at regional, national and global levels. According to the latest report, the highest hunger levels have been recorded in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, with scores indicating ‘serious’ hunger.&nbsp;

The 2023 Global Hunger Index further showed that even after extensive efforts, the progress made against hunger worldwide remains largely at a standstill.&nbsp;

“We are now living with a series of concurrent and long-term crises that will continue to fuel global humanitarian needs. This is the humanitarian community’s new reality — our new normal — and we will be dealing with the fallout for years to come," said the head of the World Food Programme, recently.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2023 ranked India in the 111th position among the 125 countries with a score of 28.7, as per a report released on Thursday (Oct 12).

The Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2023 ranked India in the 111th position among the 125 countries with a score of 28.7, as per a report released on Thursday (Oct 12). Reacting to the report, India's Ministry of Women and Child Development called the rankings as "flawed", adding that they failed to depict the true position of India. Meanwhile, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka were ranked at 102nd, 81st, 69th, and 60th respectively by the GHI. In 2022, India was placed at the rank of 107 out of 121. “The GHI continues to be a flawed measure of hunger and does not reflect India’s true position. The index is an erroneous measure of hunger and suffers from serious methodological issues. Three out of the four indicators used for the calculation of the index are related to the health of children and cannot be representative of the entire population. The fourth and most important indicator Proportion of Undernourished population (PoU) is based on an opinion poll conducted on a very small sample size of 3,000," said the ministry, in a statement. ALSO READ | Amid raging Israel-Hamas war, India's capital Delhi placed on security alert The highest regional hunger levels were recorded by South Asia and Africa south of the Sahara as the two had a GHI score of 27. The report, prepared by German NGO Welt Hunger Hilfe and Irish NGO Concern Worldwide, claimed that the child wasting rate of India was 18.7 per cent, which is the highest on the global level and signalled acute undernutrition. Child-wasting figures consistently under 7.2%: India Wasting is measured on the basis of the children's weight relative to their height. The undernourishment rate in India has been recorded at 16.6 per cent while the country's under-five mortality rate was 3.1 per cent. The Indian government, while pointing towards its Poshan Tracker, stated that child-wasting figures have been consistently under 7.2 per cent, which contrasts the GHI's 18.7 per cent. WATCH | India inflation dips tp 5.02% | India's retail inflation sees significant September dip | WION The Global Hunger Index is a tool tracking and measuring hunger comprehensively at regional, national and global levels. According to the latest report, the highest hunger levels have been recorded in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, with scores indicating ‘serious’ hunger. The 2023 Global Hunger Index further showed that even after extensive efforts, the progress made against hunger worldwide remains largely at a standstill. “We are now living with a series of concurrent and long-term crises that will continue to fuel global humanitarian needs. This is the humanitarian community’s new reality — our new normal — and we will be dealing with the fallout for years to come," said the head of the World Food Programme, recently. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

India slips in Global Hunger Index report, ranks 111th among 125 countries; govt calls it ‘flawed’

India has been ranked 101 out of 116 countries on the Global Hunger Index 2021. The centre has issued a rebuttal, it says the assessment is devoid of ground reality & facts. Palki Sharma gets you a report.

Gravitas: India ranked 101 on Global Hunger Index

The India government has dismissed the 2021 global hunger index report as shocking and unscientific. India has been given one of the lowest rankings in the report jointly published by Irish aid agency Concern Worldwide and Germany's Welthungerhilfe.

India government dismisses 2021 global hunger index

India has slipped to 101st position in the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2021 of 116 countries, from its 2020 position of 94th and is behind its neighbours Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal.

Eighteen countries, including China, Brazil and Kuwait, shared the top rank with GHI score of less than five, the website of the Global Hunger Index that tracks hunger and malnutrition said on Thursday.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pollution-has-started-increasing-says-delhi-cm-kejriwal-as-air-quality-index-reaches-171-419550">Pollution has started increasing, says Delhi CM Kejriwal as air quality index reaches 171</a>

The report, prepared jointly by Irish aid agency Concern Worldwide and German organisation Welt Hunger Hilfe, termed the level of hunger in India "alarming".

In 2020, India was ranked 94th out of 107 countries. Now with 116 countries in the fray, it has dropped to 101st rank.

India's GHI score has also decelerated -- from 38.8 in 2000 to the range of 28.8 - 27.5 between 2012 and 2021.

The GHI score is calculated on four indicators --undernourishment; child wasting (the share of children under the age of five who are wasted i.e&nbsp;who have low weight for their height, reflecting acute undernutrition); child stunting (children under the age of five who have low height for their age, reflecting chronic undernutrition) and child mortality (the mortality rate of children under the age of five).

The share of wasting among children in India rose from 17.1 per cent between 1998-2002 to 17.3 per cent between 2016-2020, according to the report.

"People have been severely hit by COVID-19 and by pandemic related restrictions in India, the country with highest child wasting rate worldwide," the report said.

Also Read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/locals-come-forward-in-support-of-minority-communities-to-save-kashmiriyat-420719">&nbsp;Locals come forward in support of minority communities to save Kashmiriyat</a>

Neighbouring countries like Nepal (76), Bangladesh (76), Myanmar (71) and Pakistan (92) are also in the 'alarming' hunger category, but have fared better at feeding its citizens than India, according to the report.

However, India has shown improvement in other indicators such as the under-5 mortality rate, prevalence of stunting among children and prevalence of undernourishment owing to inadequate food, the report said.

According to the report, the fight against hunger is dangerously off track. Based on the current GHI projections, the world as a whole -- and 47 countries in particular -- will fail to achieve a low level of hunger by 2030.

Food security is under assault on multiple fronts, it said, adding that worsening conflict, weather extremes associated with global climate change, and the economic and health challenges associated with the COVID19 pandemic are all driving hunger.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-china-conflict-arunachal-pradesh-integral-and-inalienable-part-of-india-mea-rebuffs-china-420399">India-China conflict | Arunachal Pradesh integral and inalienable part of India: MEA rebuffs China</a>

"Inequality -- between regions, countries, districts, and communities -- is pervasive and, (if) left unchecked, will keep the world from achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) mandate to leave no one behind," the report said.

Further, the report noted that it is difficult to be optimistic in 2021 because the forces now driving hunger are overpowering good intentions and lofty goals.

Among the most powerful and toxic of these forces are conflict, climate change, and COVID-19 three Cs that threaten to wipe out any progress that has been made against hunger in recent years, it added

India has slipped to 101st position in the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2021 of 116 countries, from its 2020 position of 94th and is behind its neighbours Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal.

India has slipped to 101st position in the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2021 of 116 countries, from its 2020 position of 94th and is behind its neighbours Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal. Eighteen countries, including China, Brazil and Kuwait, shared the top rank with GHI score of less than five, the website of the Global Hunger Index that tracks hunger and malnutrition said on Thursday. Also Read | Pollution has started increasing, says Delhi CM Kejriwal as air quality index reaches 171 The report, prepared jointly by Irish aid agency Concern Worldwide and German organisation Welt Hunger Hilfe, termed the level of hunger in India "alarming". In 2020, India was ranked 94th out of 107 countries. Now with 116 countries in the fray, it has dropped to 101st rank. India's GHI score has also decelerated -- from 38.8 in 2000 to the range of 28.8 - 27.5 between 2012 and 2021. The GHI score is calculated on four indicators --undernourishment; child wasting (the share of children under the age of five who are wasted i.e who have low weight for their height, reflecting acute undernutrition); child stunting (children under the age of five who have low height for their age, reflecting chronic undernutrition) and child mortality (the mortality rate of children under the age of five). The share of wasting among children in India rose from 17.1 per cent between 1998-2002 to 17.3 per cent between 2016-2020, according to the report. "People have been severely hit by COVID-19 and by pandemic related restrictions in India, the country with highest child wasting rate worldwide," the report said. Also Read | Locals come forward in support of minority communities to save Kashmiriyat Neighbouring countries like Nepal (76), Bangladesh (76), Myanmar (71) and Pakistan (92) are also in the 'alarming' hunger category, but have fared better at feeding its citizens than India, according to the report. However, India has shown improvement in other indicators such as the under-5 mortality rate, prevalence of stunting among children and prevalence of undernourishment owing to inadequate food, the report said. According to the report, the fight against hunger is dangerously off track. Based on the current GHI projections, the world as a whole -- and 47 countries in particular -- will fail to achieve a low level of hunger by 2030. Food security is under assault on multiple fronts, it said, adding that worsening conflict, weather extremes associated with global climate change, and the economic and health challenges associated with the COVID19 pandemic are all driving hunger. Also Read | India-China conflict | Arunachal Pradesh integral and inalienable part of India: MEA rebuffs China "Inequality -- between regions, countries, districts, and communities -- is pervasive and, (if) left unchecked, will keep the world from achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) mandate to leave no one behind," the report said. Further, the report noted that it is difficult to be optimistic in 2021 because the forces now driving hunger are overpowering good intentions and lofty goals. Among the most powerful and toxic of these forces are conflict, climate change, and COVID-19 three Cs that threaten to wipe out any progress that has been made against hunger in recent years, it added

India slips to 101st rank in Global Hunger Index 2021; behind Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal

Almost one million people are facing severe hunger in northern Mozambique where hundreds of thousands of people have been forced to flee a jihadist insurgency, the UN&nbsp;food agency said on Tuesday.

"As the security situation continues to deteriorate, more than 950,000 people in the north of Mozambique are now facing severe hunger," Tomson Phiri, a spokesman for the World Food Programme, told a briefing in Geneva.

Islamic State-linked militants have escalated attacks in Mozambique's northernmost province Cabo Delgado in the past year, murdering villagers, fighting the army and seizing towns.

Almost one million people are facing severe hunger in northern Mozambique where hundreds of thousands of people have been forced to flee a jihadist insurgency, the UN food agency said on Tuesday.

Almost one million people are facing severe hunger in northern Mozambique where hundreds of thousands of people have been forced to flee a jihadist insurgency, the UN food agency said on Tuesday. "As the security situation continues to deteriorate, more than 950,000 people in the north of Mozambique are now facing severe hunger," Tomson Phiri, a spokesman for the World Food Programme, told a briefing in Geneva. Islamic State-linked militants have escalated attacks in Mozambique's northernmost province Cabo Delgado in the past year, murdering villagers, fighting the army and seizing towns.

UN food agency says nearly 1 million going hungry in Mozambique

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/maharashtra-upset-over-thackerays-move-400-shiv-sena-workers-join-bjp-266344">Shiv Sena</a> on Tuesday targeted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Centre over the spike in the onion prices and the state of the Indian economy.

In its mouthpiece Saamna, the Sena stated, " At present, the economy is slowing down. But the government is not ready to accept. The prices of onion have reached Rs 200 per kilogram. The Finance Minister has also given a very childish answer on this issue. She said I do not eat onion-garlic, so do not ask me about onions. It seems the Prime Minister has no desire to resolve this issue."

"When Modi was not the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/economy-debate-narendra-modis-nda-versus-manmohan-singhs-upa-267271">Prime Minister</a> he had expressed concern over the rising prices of onions. While he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat he had stated that onion is a vital vegetable and added that the vegetable should be kept in the locker. Today, his policy has changed. Modi is now the Prime Minister and the economy is collapsing. Earlier, an unconscious person was cured with the smell of the onion. But that it not even possible now as the edible bulb has disappeared from the market," the editorial read.

"Pandit Nehru (Jawaharlal Nehru) and Indira Gandhi cannot be held responsible for the apocalyptic destruction of the country`s economy. The present government is not in a mood to listen to the experts. For them, the economy is like a stock market that has become speculative."

The former ally also raked up the issue of demonetization and said, " Very few people make decisions in the Prime Minister`s Office. These decisions are valid for their political and social programmes of the ruling party. But their decisions have marginalised the economic reforms. While taking decisions, such as demonetization, the Finance Minister of the country was kept in dark and also the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India protested, later he was removed."

The Shiv Sena also slammed the Centre for not doing enough to combat the menace of poverty.

"This time in the Global Hunger Index, out of 107 countries India has been positioned at 102. In 2014, India was in the 55th position and in the last five years, poverty has increased in the country while in the neighboring countries such as Nepal, Bangladesh, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/kulbhushan-jhadav-case-islamabad-insists-on-pakistan-representative-as-jhadav-gives-indian-side-power-of-attorney-to-represent-him-267156">Pakistan </a>it has reduced. There no work in the hands of the people and no food in their stomach. This is the condition of the common people of our country but the rulers are calling it development. Our economy is sick, but the Modi government is not ready to accept this either."

The Shiv Sena on Tuesday targeted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Centre over the spike in the onion prices and the state of the Indian economy. In its mouthpiece Saamna, the Sena stated, " At present, the economy is slowing down.

The Shiv Sena on Tuesday targeted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Centre over the spike in the onion prices and the state of the Indian economy. In its mouthpiece Saamna, the Sena stated, " At present, the economy is slowing down. But the government is not ready to accept. The prices of onion have reached Rs 200 per kilogram. The Finance Minister has also given a very childish answer on this issue. She said I do not eat onion-garlic, so do not ask me about onions. It seems the Prime Minister has no desire to resolve this issue." "When Modi was not the Prime Minister he had expressed concern over the rising prices of onions. While he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat he had stated that onion is a vital vegetable and added that the vegetable should be kept in the locker. Today, his policy has changed. Modi is now the Prime Minister and the economy is collapsing. Earlier, an unconscious person was cured with the smell of the onion. But that it not even possible now as the edible bulb has disappeared from the market," the editorial read. "Pandit Nehru (Jawaharlal Nehru) and Indira Gandhi cannot be held responsible for the apocalyptic destruction of the country`s economy. The present government is not in a mood to listen to the experts. For them, the economy is like a stock market that has become speculative." The former ally also raked up the issue of demonetization and said, " Very few people make decisions in the Prime Minister`s Office. These decisions are valid for their political and social programmes of the ruling party. But their decisions have marginalised the economic reforms. While taking decisions, such as demonetization, the Finance Minister of the country was kept in dark and also the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India protested, later he was removed." The Shiv Sena also slammed the Centre for not doing enough to combat the menace of poverty. "This time in the Global Hunger Index, out of 107 countries India has been positioned at 102. In 2014, India was in the 55th position and in the last five years, poverty has increased in the country while in the neighboring countries such as Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan it has reduced. There no work in the hands of the people and no food in their stomach. This is the condition of the common people of our country but the rulers are calling it development. Our economy is sick, but the Modi government is not ready to accept this either."

Shiv Sena lashes at Modi govt over rising onion prices, state of economy

Nutritious foods for a healthy diet are not available or affordable to many across the globe; those with access to it choose calorie-rich, nutritionally empty foods instead - what a dichotomy! &nbsp;

Today is World Food Day, a day to call for action from the global community to ensure that no one goes to sleep on a hungry stomach; a day for us to pledge to adopt a lifestyle that ensures reducing food wastage and adopting sustainable eating habits.&nbsp;

This World Food Day, the theme revolves around achieving 'Zero Hunger' through 'Healthy Diets'.&nbsp;

'Zero Hunger' is among the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) laid down by the United Nations in its mission to attain sustainable global development by the year 2030.&nbsp;

But how is feeding the world's hungry related to pushing people to choose healthy, sustainable diets? The link here is an obvious one, something that has come to light very recently. This calls for a closer look at the lopsidedness, the dichotomy that plagues the world. While over 800 million people across the globe suffer from hunger, the Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations estimates "even more people suffer from obesity" and its side effects.

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<h5>While over 800 million people across the globe suffer from hunger, more suffer from obesity and its side effects</h5>
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When more than 800 million people across the globe have no food to meet their nutritional needs, parallelly runs a scenario where people are suffering because of the over-abundance of food. The FAO states that nearly 670 million adults, across the globe, are obese and the world spends close to $2 trillion annually on health problems tied to obesity.

The challenge now is to bridge the gap which has hunger and obesity stationed at its extreme ends. The only two ways to start taking baby steps towards solving this gigantic problem is by ensuring, personally, that no food goes wasted; and, by being mindful of what we consume by making healthy and sustainable food choices.&nbsp;

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Think about what you ate today 🌱💦🌾🍚 
 
Where did your food come from? This <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldFoodDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorldFoodDay</a>, we challenge you to think about the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FoodJourney?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FoodJourney</a> that brings food to your plate day after day &amp; do your part to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StopTheWaste?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StopTheWaste</a> <a href="https://t.co/kFqSQLn3An">pic.twitter.com/kFqSQLn3An</a>
— World Food Programme (@WFP) <a href="https://twitter.com/WFP/status/1184364098881908736?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 16, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Making healthy eating choices assumes greater significance when the concept of 'hidden hunger' hits us hard in the face. The fact that our daily diets are calorie-rich and nutritionally hollow, points to the fact that we are all deficient in some essential nutrient or the other - therefore, hidden hunger.

We can even pass nutritional deficiencies and different forms of malnutrition down to generations. The FAO states that the "environmental damage caused by the food system could increase 50-90 per cent due to the increased consumption of processed food items, meat and other animal-source products in low and middle-income countries".&nbsp;

This year, India slipped&nbsp;from the 55th spot in 2014 to come 102nd in the Global Hunger Index. Facts and data similar to this will continue to pour in and inundate us; figures will change and statistics will paint a more alarming picture of global hunger and the rising incident of non-communicable and lifestyle diseases. In the end, it all boils to just one thing - how can we start about a revolution within ourselves? It is all about getting rid of our eating styles, consumption pattern and being mindful, more watchful of what we eat and how we prepare, or even store, our food.&nbsp;

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It’s <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldFoodDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorldFoodDay</a>. 
Our nutrition provides life to every cell in our body, from hair to skin, from bones to muscles. 
We are what we eat, but also what we waste. 
Europeans waste 88 million tonnes of food each year, see what we are doing to tackle this: <a href="https://t.co/JhPzbN04Lz">https://t.co/JhPzbN04Lz</a> <a href="https://t.co/x95paYt48W">pic.twitter.com/x95paYt48W</a>
— European Commission 🇪🇺 (@EU_Commission) <a href="https://twitter.com/EU_Commission/status/1184366379299790848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 16, 2019</a></blockquote>
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The following points should initiate you to the world of sustainable eating. Take these as your baby steps towards ensuring the planet's healthier, hunger-free future.&nbsp;

1. Add vegetables, fruit, legumes, nuts and whole grains to your diet

2. Cut back on refined starches, sugar, fats, meat, processed items, packaged foods and salt

3. Swap refined ‘white’ foods for more nutritious ‘brown’ options

4. Choose foods with unsaturated fats over saturated and trans-fats

5. Eat traditional diet, local, seasonal and organic

6. Eat sustainably sourced fish

7. Consume fresh food, avoid stale food, reduce waste

8. Eat more home-cooked meals

9. Try healthier cooking options like pressure-cooking, steaming, boiling, stir-frying, slow-cooking

10. Read your labels

11. Exercise daily

12. Grow your own greens and veggies

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) &nbsp;

Nutritious foods for a healthy diet are not available or affordable to many across the globe; those with access to it choose calorie-rich, nutritionally empty foods instead - what a dichotomy!

Nutritious foods for a healthy diet are not available or affordable to many across the globe; those with access to it choose calorie-rich, nutritionally empty foods instead - what a dichotomy! Today is World Food Day, a day to call for action from the global community to ensure that no one goes to sleep on a hungry stomach; a day for us to pledge to adopt a lifestyle that ensures reducing food wastage and adopting sustainable eating habits. This World Food Day, the theme revolves around achieving 'Zero Hunger' through 'Healthy Diets'. 'Zero Hunger' is among the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) laid down by the United Nations in its mission to attain sustainable global development by the year 2030. But how is feeding the world's hungry related to pushing people to choose healthy, sustainable diets? The link here is an obvious one, something that has come to light very recently. This calls for a closer look at the lopsidedness, the dichotomy that plagues the world. While over 800 million people across the globe suffer from hunger, the Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations estimates "even more people suffer from obesity" and its side effects. While over 800 million people across the globe suffer from hunger, more suffer from obesity and its side effects × When more than 800 million people across the globe have no food to meet their nutritional needs, parallelly runs a scenario where people are suffering because of the over-abundance of food. The FAO states that nearly 670 million adults, across the globe, are obese and the world spends close to $2 trillion annually on health problems tied to obesity. The challenge now is to bridge the gap which has hunger and obesity stationed at its extreme ends. The only two ways to start taking baby steps towards solving this gigantic problem is by ensuring, personally, that no food goes wasted; and, by being mindful of what we consume by making healthy and sustainable food choices. Think about what you ate today 🌱💦🌾🍚 Where did your food come from? This #WorldFoodDay, we challenge you to think about the #FoodJourney that brings food to your plate day after day & do your part to #StopTheWaste pic.twitter.com/kFqSQLn3An — World Food Programme (@WFP) October 16, 2019 × Making healthy eating choices assumes greater significance when the concept of 'hidden hunger' hits us hard in the face. The fact that our daily diets are calorie-rich and nutritionally hollow, points to the fact that we are all deficient in some essential nutrient or the other - therefore, hidden hunger. We can even pass nutritional deficiencies and different forms of malnutrition down to generations. The FAO states that the "environmental damage caused by the food system could increase 50-90 per cent due to the increased consumption of processed food items, meat and other animal-source products in low and middle-income countries". This year, India slipped from the 55th spot in 2014 to come 102nd in the Global Hunger Index. Facts and data similar to this will continue to pour in and inundate us; figures will change and statistics will paint a more alarming picture of global hunger and the rising incident of non-communicable and lifestyle diseases. In the end, it all boils to just one thing - how can we start about a revolution within ourselves? It is all about getting rid of our eating styles, consumption pattern and being mindful, more watchful of what we eat and how we prepare, or even store, our food. It’s #WorldFoodDay. Our nutrition provides life to every cell in our body, from hair to skin, from bones to muscles. We are what we eat, but also what we waste. Europeans waste 88 million tonnes of food each year, see what we are doing to tackle this: https://t.co/JhPzbN04Lz pic.twitter.com/x95paYt48W — European Commission 🇪🇺 (@EU_Commission) October 16, 2019 × The following points should initiate you to the world of sustainable eating. Take these as your baby steps towards ensuring the planet's healthier, hunger-free future. 1. Add vegetables, fruit, legumes, nuts and whole grains to your diet 2. Cut back on refined starches, sugar, fats, meat, processed items, packaged foods and salt 3. Swap refined ‘white’ foods for more nutritious ‘brown’ options 4. Choose foods with unsaturated fats over saturated and trans-fats 5. Eat traditional diet, local, seasonal and organic 6. Eat sustainably sourced fish 7. Consume fresh food, avoid stale food, reduce waste 8. Eat more home-cooked meals 9. Try healthier cooking options like pressure-cooking, steaming, boiling, stir-frying, slow-cooking 10. Read your labels 11. Exercise daily 12. Grow your own greens and veggies (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

World Food Day: Mindful eating, sustainable food choices are important to achieve 'zero hunger'

India has a &quot;serious&quot; hunger problem and ranks 100th out of 119 countries on the global hunger index, behind North Korea, Bangladesh, and Iraq but ahead of Pakistan, according to a report.

The country&#39;s serious hunger level is driven by high child malnutrition and underlines the need for stronger commitment to the social sector, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) said in its report.

India stood at 97th position in last year&#39;s rankings.

&quot;India is ranked 100th out of 119 countries, and has the third highest score in all of Asia, only Afghanistan and Pakistan are ranked worse,&quot; IFPRI said in a statement.

&quot;At 31.4, India&#39;s 2017 GHI (Global Hunger Index) score is at the high end of the &#39;serious&#39; category, and is one of the main factors pushing South Asia to the category of worst performing region on the GHI this year, followed closely by Africa South of the Sahara,&quot; it added.

As per the report, India ranks below many of its neighbouring countries such as China (29th rank), Nepal (72), Myanmar (77), Sri Lank (84) and Bangladesh (88). It is ahead of Pakistan (106) and Afghanistan (107).

North Korea ranks 93rd while Iraq is at 78th position.

The GHI, now in its 12th year, ranks countries based on four key indicators, undernourishment, child mortality, child wasting and child stunting.

The report ranked 119 countries in the developing world, nearly half of which have &#39;extremely alarming&#39;, &#39;alarming&#39; or &#39;serious&#39; hunger levels.

&quot;India&#39;s high ranking on the Global Hunger Index (GHI) again this year brings to the fore the disturbing reality of the country&#39;s stubbornly high proportions of malnourished children,&quot; the statement said.

IFPRI pointed out that more than one-fifth of Indian children under five weigh too little for their height and over a third are too short for their age.

&quot;Even with the massive scale-up of national nutrition, focused programmes in India, drought and structural deficiencies have left a large number of poor in India at risk of malnourishment in 2017, said P K Joshi, IFPRI Director for South Asia.

However, he said that the on-going efforts are expected to make significant changes in improving the existing situation.

Joshi appreciated that India has developed and launched an action plan on &#39;undernourishment free India&#39; by 2022. The plan shows stronger commitment and greater investments in tackling malnutrition in the coming years.

&quot;As of 2015-16, more than a fifth (21 per cent) of children in India suffer from wasting (low weight for height)&nbsp;up from 20 per cent in 2005-2006,&quot; IFPRI said.

Only three other countries in this year&#39;s GHI, Djibouti, Sri Lanka and South Sudan, show child wasting above 20 per cent. India&#39;s child wasting rate has not shown any substantial improvement over the past 25 years.

However, India has made considerable improvement in reducing its child stunting rate, down 29 per cent since 2000, but even that progress leaves India with a relatively high stunting rate of 38.4.

The country's serious hunger level is driven by high child malnutrition and underlines the need for stronger commitment to the social sector, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) said in its report

India has a "serious" hunger problem and ranks 100th out of 119 countries on the global hunger index, behind North Korea, Bangladesh, and Iraq but ahead of Pakistan, according to a report. The country's serious hunger level is driven by high child malnutrition and underlines the need for stronger commitment to the social sector, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) said in its report. India stood at 97th position in last year's rankings. "India is ranked 100th out of 119 countries, and has the third highest score in all of Asia, only Afghanistan and Pakistan are ranked worse," IFPRI said in a statement. "At 31.4, India's 2017 GHI (Global Hunger Index) score is at the high end of the 'serious' category, and is one of the main factors pushing South Asia to the category of worst performing region on the GHI this year, followed closely by Africa South of the Sahara," it added. As per the report, India ranks below many of its neighbouring countries such as China (29th rank), Nepal (72), Myanmar (77), Sri Lank (84) and Bangladesh (88). It is ahead of Pakistan (106) and Afghanistan (107). North Korea ranks 93rd while Iraq is at 78th position. The GHI, now in its 12th year, ranks countries based on four key indicators, undernourishment, child mortality, child wasting and child stunting. The report ranked 119 countries in the developing world, nearly half of which have 'extremely alarming', 'alarming' or 'serious' hunger levels. "India's high ranking on the Global Hunger Index (GHI) again this year brings to the fore the disturbing reality of the country's stubbornly high proportions of malnourished children," the statement said. IFPRI pointed out that more than one-fifth of Indian children under five weigh too little for their height and over a third are too short for their age. "Even with the massive scale-up of national nutrition, focused programmes in India, drought and structural deficiencies have left a large number of poor in India at risk of malnourishment in 2017, said P K Joshi, IFPRI Director for South Asia. However, he said that the on-going efforts are expected to make significant changes in improving the existing situation. Joshi appreciated that India has developed and launched an action plan on 'undernourishment free India' by 2022. The plan shows stronger commitment and greater investments in tackling malnutrition in the coming years. "As of 2015-16, more than a fifth (21 per cent) of children in India suffer from wasting (low weight for height) up from 20 per cent in 2005-2006," IFPRI said. Only three other countries in this year's GHI, Djibouti, Sri Lanka and South Sudan, show child wasting above 20 per cent. India's child wasting rate has not shown any substantial improvement over the past 25 years. However, India has made considerable improvement in reducing its child stunting rate, down 29 per cent since 2000, but even that progress leaves India with a relatively high stunting rate of 38.4.

India 100th on global hunger index, trails Bangladesh

Efforts to curb hunger must be accelerated if we want to eradicate hunger by 2030, says an annual index

World Food Day: An infographic representation of hunger in the world

At 97, India which has a Global Hunger Index score of 28.5, is among the 43 countries with 'serious' hunger levels

South Asian nations have some of the highest hunger levels in the world, Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2016 has revealed. The overall score for South Asia in the 100-point scale is 29, just a notch below Sub-Saharan Africa's 30 which put them in the category of countries with "serious" hunger levels. The index, a tool for measuring progress and failures in the global fight against hunger, ranks countries on the parameters of undernourishment, child mortality, child wasting (low weight for height) and child stunting (low height for age). International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) produces the annual index along with aid agencies Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe. At 97, India which has a GHI score of 28.5, is among the 43 countries with "serious" hunger levels. It is worse off than Nepal (21.9), Sri Lanka (25.5) and Bangladesh (27.1) which rank at 72, 84 and 90. In India, 15.2 per cent of the total population is malnourished which is much more than China where 8.8 per cent of the population is malnourished. China also has an overall score of 29 and a GHI score of 7.7. At 107, Pakistan's performance is worst than most of its South Asian neighbours with 22 per cent of the country's population remaining undernourished. Myanmar, which holds the 75th position, is among the 25 countries which have reduced their GHI scores by over 50 per cent since 2000. Poverty, unemployment, lack of sanitation and safe drinking water, and lack of effective health care are the main reasons why India fares so poorly. Also, despite the fact that India has two of the biggest child nutrition programmes, the ICDS and the mid-day meal, the share of under-5 children who are "wasted" is about 15 per cent while the share of children who are "stunted" is 39 per cent. "We have the technology, knowledge, and resources to achieve (zero hunger). What is missing is both the urgency and the political will to turn commitments into action," says Dominic MacSorley, CEO of Concern Worldwide. The 2016 report ranked 118 developing countries. The parameters of wasting and stunting were introduced for the first time this year. Seven countries, including the Central African Republic, Chad and Zambia, have "alarming" GHI score of 35-49.9. World leaders last year agreed on a 2030 deadline for ending global hunger as part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). (WION with inputs from agencies)

World Food Day: South Asian countries have 'serious' hunger levels