India ranked 94 among 107 nations in the Global Hunger Index 2020 and is in the 'serious' hunger category with experts blaming poor implementation processes, lack of effective monitoring, siloed approach in tackling malnutrition and poor performance by large states behind the low ranking.

Last year, India's rank was 102 out of 117 countries.

The neighbouring Bangladesh, Myanmar and Pakistan too are in the 'serious' category but ranked higher than India in this year's hunger index. While Bangladesh ranked 75, Myanmar and Pakistan are in the 78th and 88th position.

Nepal in 73rd and Sri Lanka in 64th position are in 'moderate' hunger category, the report showed.

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Seventeen nations, including China, Belarus, Ukraine, Turkey, Cuba and Kuwait, shared the top rank with GHI scores of less than five, the website of the Global Hunger Index, that tracks hunger and malnutrition, said on Friday.

According to the report, 14 per cent of India's population is undernourished.

It also showed the country recorded a 37.4 per cent stunting rate among children under five and a wasting rate of 17.3 per cent. The under-five mortality rate stood at 3.7 per cent.

Wasting is children who have low weight for their height, reflecting acute undernutrition. Stunting is children under the age of five who have low height for their age, reflecting chronic undernutrition.

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Data from 1991 through 2014 for Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan showed that stunting is concentrated among children from households facing multiple forms of deprivation, including poor dietary diversity, low levels of maternal education, and household poverty.

During this period, India experienced a decline in under-five mortality, driven largely by a decrease in deaths from birth asphyxia or trauma, neonatal infections, pneumonia, and diarrhoea, the report stated.

"However, child mortality, caused by prematurity and low birth weight, increased particularly in poorer states and rural areas. Prevention of prematurity and low birthweight is identified as a key factor with the potential to reduce under-five mortality in India, through actions such as better antenatal care, education, and nutrition as well as reductions in anaemia and oral tobacco use," it said.

Experts think that poor implementation processes, lack of effective monitoring and siloed approaches to tackling malnutrition often result in poor nutrition indices.

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Purnima Menon, a senior research fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute, New Delhi, said the performance of large states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh need to be improved to see an overall change of India's ranking.

"The national average is affected a lot by the states like UP and Bihar... The states which actually have a combination of high levels of malnutrition and they contribute a lot to the population of the country.

"Every fifth child born in India is in Uttar Pradesh. So if you have a high level of malnutrition in a state that has a high population, it contributes a lot to India's average. Obviously, then, India's average will be slow to move," she told PTI.

Menon said big states with large population and a high burden of malnutrition are those which are actually affecting India's average.

"So, if we want a change in India then we would also need a change in Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar," she said.

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Shweta Khandelwal, the head of Nutrition Research and Additional Professor at Public Health Foundation of India, said the country has one of the most impressive portfolios of programmes and policies in nutrition in the books. 
"However, the ground realities are quite dismal."

"Research shows that our top-down approach, poor implementation processes, lack of effective monitoring and siloed approaches in tackling malnutrition (missing convergence) often result in poor nutrition indices. We must integrate actions to make public health and nutrition a priority across each sector," she told PTI.

Khandelwal suggested five measures to prevent exacerbation of hunger because of the pandemic.

"Safeguard and promote access to nutritious, safe and affordable diets; invest in improving maternal and child nutrition through pregnancy, infancy, and early childhood; re-activate and scale-up services for the early detection and treatment of child wasting; maintain the provision of nutritious and safe school meals for vulnerable children and expand social protection to safeguard access to nutritious diets and essential service," she said.

She said it is important to aim at curbing multiple forms of malnutrition holistically in a concerted manner rather than single short-sighted fixes.

"Hunger and undernutrition cannot and should not be fixed by mere calorie provision. All stakeholders steered by robust leadership must pay attention to making balanced healthy diets which are climate-friendly, affordable and accessible to all," she added.

GHI score is calculated on four indicators -- undernourishment; child wasting, the share of children under the age of five who are wasted-- 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.

India ranked 94 among 107 nations in the Global Hunger Index 2020 and is in the 'serious' hunger category with experts blaming poor implementation processes, lack of effective monitoring, siloed approach in tackling malnutrition and poor performance by large states behind the low ranking.

India ranked 94 among 107 nations in the Global Hunger Index 2020 and is in the 'serious' hunger category with experts blaming poor implementation processes, lack of effective monitoring, siloed approach in tackling malnutrition and poor performance by large states behind the low ranking. Last year, India's rank was 102 out of 117 countries. The neighbouring Bangladesh, Myanmar and Pakistan too are in the 'serious' category but ranked higher than India in this year's hunger index. While Bangladesh ranked 75, Myanmar and Pakistan are in the 78th and 88th position. Nepal in 73rd and Sri Lanka in 64th position are in 'moderate' hunger category, the report showed. Also read| Around 29 million women and girls victims of modern slavery: UN report Seventeen nations, including China, Belarus, Ukraine, Turkey, Cuba and Kuwait, shared the top rank with GHI scores of less than five, the website of the Global Hunger Index, that tracks hunger and malnutrition, said on Friday. According to the report, 14 per cent of India's population is undernourished. It also showed the country recorded a 37.4 per cent stunting rate among children under five and a wasting rate of 17.3 per cent. The under-five mortality rate stood at 3.7 per cent. Wasting is children who have low weight for their height, reflecting acute undernutrition. Stunting is children under the age of five who have low height for their age, reflecting chronic undernutrition. Also read| World's richest 1% cause double CO2 emissions of poorest 50%, says Oxfam Data from 1991 through 2014 for Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan showed that stunting is concentrated among children from households facing multiple forms of deprivation, including poor dietary diversity, low levels of maternal education, and household poverty. During this period, India experienced a decline in under-five mortality, driven largely by a decrease in deaths from birth asphyxia or trauma, neonatal infections, pneumonia, and diarrhoea, the report stated. "However, child mortality, caused by prematurity and low birth weight, increased particularly in poorer states and rural areas. Prevention of prematurity and low birthweight is identified as a key factor with the potential to reduce under-five mortality in India, through actions such as better antenatal care, education, and nutrition as well as reductions in anaemia and oral tobacco use," it said. Experts think that poor implementation processes, lack of effective monitoring and siloed approaches to tackling malnutrition often result in poor nutrition indices. Also read| 'Not enough': Oxfam accuses governments of not helping poor countries amid pandemic Purnima Menon, a senior research fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute, New Delhi, said the performance of large states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh need to be improved to see an overall change of India's ranking. "The national average is affected a lot by the states like UP and Bihar... The states which actually have a combination of high levels of malnutrition and they contribute a lot to the population of the country. "Every fifth child born in India is in Uttar Pradesh. So if you have a high level of malnutrition in a state that has a high population, it contributes a lot to India's average. Obviously, then, India's average will be slow to move," she told PTI. Menon said big states with large population and a high burden of malnutrition are those which are actually affecting India's average. "So, if we want a change in India then we would also need a change in Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar," she said. Also read| One stillbirth every 16 seconds and this could get worse due to COVID-19 pandemic Shweta Khandelwal, the head of Nutrition Research and Additional Professor at Public Health Foundation of India, said the country has one of the most impressive portfolios of programmes and policies in nutrition in the books. "However, the ground realities are quite dismal." "Research shows that our top-down approach, poor implementation processes, lack of effective monitoring and siloed approaches in tackling malnutrition (missing convergence) often result in poor nutrition indices. We must integrate actions to make public health and nutrition a priority across each sector," she told PTI. Khandelwal suggested five measures to prevent exacerbation of hunger because of the pandemic. "Safeguard and promote access to nutritious, safe and affordable diets; invest in improving maternal and child nutrition through pregnancy, infancy, and early childhood; re-activate and scale-up services for the early detection and treatment of child wasting; maintain the provision of nutritious and safe school meals for vulnerable children and expand social protection to safeguard access to nutritious diets and essential service," she said. She said it is important to aim at curbing multiple forms of malnutrition holistically in a concerted manner rather than single short-sighted fixes. "Hunger and undernutrition cannot and should not be fixed by mere calorie provision. All stakeholders steered by robust leadership must pay attention to making balanced healthy diets which are climate-friendly, affordable and accessible to all," she added. GHI score is calculated on four indicators -- undernourishment; child wasting, the share of children under the age of five who are wasted-- 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.

India ranks 94 in Hunger Index; experts blame poor implementation, siloed approach

After taking over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's social media account under #SheInspiresUS campaign, founder of NGO Food Bank India Sneha Mohandoss in a snazzy manner asked a Twitterati to try to log in with 'New India'&nbsp;when he asked for a password of Prime Minister's Twitter handle.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
I am signing off from this account. I will be tweeting from <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> Honble PM account, Thanks for the motivation ❤️
— sneha mohandoss (@snehamohandoss) <a href="https://twitter.com/snehamohandoss/status/1236510236963307521?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

When a Twitter user asked Sneha Mohandoss for the password of PM Narendra Modi's Twitter handle, Sneha replied, 'New India, try logging in.'

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
New India...try logging in :) 
 
<a href="https://twitter.com/snehamohandoss?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@snehamohandoss</a> <a href="https://t.co/ydnMKzsY0W">https://t.co/ydnMKzsY0W</a>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1236520501641650177?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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Mohandoss, the first one among seven women achievers to share her journey on Prime Minister Modi's social media accounts on the occasion of International Women's Day, urged people to feed a needy person and contribute to a hunger-free planet.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/who-will-be-the-next-congress-president-discordance-remains-284792">Who will be the next Congress President? Discordance remains</a>

Introducing herself, Mohandoss said that she was inspired by her mother, who instilled the habit of feeding the homeless.

"You heard of food for thought. Now, it is time for action and a better future for our poor. Hello, I am Sneha Mohandoss Inspired by my mother, who instilled the habit of feeding the homeless, I started this initiative called Food Bank India," Mohandoss tweeted along with a video introducing herself.

The Food Bank India founder works with volunteers towards eradicating hunger. With the help of her team, she has also initiated breastfeeding awareness drives.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/coronavirus-in-india-five-new-cases-of-covid-19-in-kerala-total-confirmed-cases-in-india-now-39-284972">Coronavirus in India: Five new cases of COVID-19 in Kerala, total confirmed cases in India now 39</a>

"I work with volunteers, many of whom are outside India, to work towards eradicating hunger. We have over 20 chapters and have impacted several people with our work. We also initiated activities like mass cooking, cooking marathons, breastfeeding awareness drives," she said.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi stated that seven women achievers will share their life`s journey and interact with his followers through his social media accounts on the occasion of the International Women's Day.

The Prime Minister had announced that on women's day this year, he will give away his social media accounts to women whose life and work inspires people to help them ignite motivation in millions.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Greetings on International Women’s Day! We salute the spirit and accomplishments of our Nari Shakti. 
As I’d said a few days ago, I’m signing off. Through the day, seven women achievers will share their life journeys and perhaps interact with you through my social media accounts.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1236506349531357184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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&nbsp;

After taking over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's social media account under #SheInspiresUS campaign, founder of NGO Food Bank India Sneha Mohandoss in a snazzy manner asked a Twitterati to try to log in with 'New India' when he asked for a password of Prime Minister's Twitter handle.

After taking over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's social media account under #SheInspiresUS campaign, founder of NGO Food Bank India Sneha Mohandoss in a snazzy manner asked a Twitterati to try to log in with 'New India' when he asked for a password of Prime Minister's Twitter handle. I am signing off from this account. I will be tweeting from @narendramodi Honble PM account, Thanks for the motivation ❤️ — sneha mohandoss (@snehamohandoss) March 8, 2020 × When a Twitter user asked Sneha Mohandoss for the password of PM Narendra Modi's Twitter handle, Sneha replied, 'New India, try logging in.' New India...try logging in :) @snehamohandoss https://t.co/ydnMKzsY0W — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 8, 2020 × Mohandoss, the first one among seven women achievers to share her journey on Prime Minister Modi's social media accounts on the occasion of International Women's Day, urged people to feed a needy person and contribute to a hunger-free planet. Also read: Who will be the next Congress President? Discordance remains Introducing herself, Mohandoss said that she was inspired by her mother, who instilled the habit of feeding the homeless. "You heard of food for thought. Now, it is time for action and a better future for our poor. Hello, I am Sneha Mohandoss Inspired by my mother, who instilled the habit of feeding the homeless, I started this initiative called Food Bank India," Mohandoss tweeted along with a video introducing herself. The Food Bank India founder works with volunteers towards eradicating hunger. With the help of her team, she has also initiated breastfeeding awareness drives. Also see: Coronavirus in India: Five new cases of COVID-19 in Kerala, total confirmed cases in India now 39 "I work with volunteers, many of whom are outside India, to work towards eradicating hunger. We have over 20 chapters and have impacted several people with our work. We also initiated activities like mass cooking, cooking marathons, breastfeeding awareness drives," she said. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi stated that seven women achievers will share their life`s journey and interact with his followers through his social media accounts on the occasion of the International Women's Day. The Prime Minister had announced that on women's day this year, he will give away his social media accounts to women whose life and work inspires people to help them ignite motivation in millions. Greetings on International Women’s Day! We salute the spirit and accomplishments of our Nari Shakti. As I’d said a few days ago, I’m signing off. Through the day, seven women achievers will share their life journeys and perhaps interact with you through my social media accounts. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 8, 2020 ×

Try 'New India': Woman achiever's witty reply to Twitterati seeking PM Modi's handle password

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India ranks 94 in Hunger Index; experts blame poor implementation, siloed approach

Try 'New India': Woman achiever's witty reply to Twitterati seeking PM Modi's handle password