As per the latest findings of the United Nations’ State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) 2024 report, more than half of India’s population cannot afford a healthy diet. The report, jointly published by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and other UN agencies on July 24, 2024, provides a stark reflection of India’s ongoing struggle with malnutrition and its cascading effects on public health.
Despite various government schemes aimed at improving food security, 55.6% of Indians still find it challenging to access a diet that meets all nutritional standards of diversity, adequacy, moderation, and balance. This number is alarmingly higher than the South Asian average of 53.1% and stands second only to Pakistan in the region.
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The implications of these statistics are profound, given that a healthy diet is crucial not just for physical well-being but also for cognitive development and long-term health. In a country where the Public Distribution System (PDS) and other initiatives like the National Food Security Act are in place, the persistence of such high numbers indicates underlying issues in the accessibility and quality of food being distributed.
In 2017, a staggering 69.5% of the population couldn’t afford a healthy diet. Although there has been a decline over the past five years, the rate of reduction is slow, and the numbers remain high. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 temporarily reversed this declining trend, highlighting how vulnerable the population is to economic disruptions.
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India houses 194.6 million undernourished people, making it the country with the highest number of undernourished individuals globally. Undernourishment, as defined by the FAO, implies a lack of intake sufficient to meet daily energy requirements consistently over a year. This condition is a direct result of poverty, inequality, and a lack of substantial public health infrastructure.
The government has indeed made strides with schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, which, since its inception in April 2020 and extension in January 2023, aims to provide free grains to about 80.48 crore people. However, the SOFI report indicates that these measures, while commendable, are insufficient in addressing the root causes of malnutrition and food insecurity.
Moreover, the quality of the diet remains a significant concern. The NITI Aayog’s Sustainable Development Goals India Index 2023-24 reveals that while coverage under the National Food Security Act is nearly universal, the nutritional quality of the diet still lags. The reliance on staple grains, with less emphasis on proteins, fruits, and vegetables, points to a gap in achieving dietary diversity.
The report throws light on other alarming nutritional challenges. About 31.7% of children under five in India are stunted, and 18.7% are wasted – both indicators of chronic and acute malnutrition. Stunting, or low height for age, is a sign of prolonged undernutrition and has long-term effects on a child’s physical and mental development. Wasting, or low weight for height, is even more dangerous and can lead to increased mortality if not addressed promptly.
Furthermore, the global rise in obesity contrasts starkly with the undernourishment prevalent in poorer nations like India, creating what the report describes as a “double burden” of malnutrition. In India, 2.8% of children under five are overweight, a figure that has risen from 2.2% in 2012. Among adults, the obesity rate is 7.3%, up from 4.1% in 2022. This increase points to a growing public health crisis that includes a rise in non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.
Globally, 35.4% of the population cannot afford a healthy diet, with the highest numbers in Africa (64.8%) and Asia (35.1%). The challenge is not only to provide enough food but to ensure that it is nutritious and accessible to all segments of the population. The report highlights that achieving this requires more than just food distribution – it requires an overhaul of the food systems to increase the availability of affordable, nutritious foods.
The Indian government’s rejection of the Global Hunger Index 2021, where India ranked 111th out of 125 countries, reflects a defensive stance against global reports rather than a constructive acceptance of feedback. The GHI noted that high scores might indicate poor diet quality, inadequate childcare practices, and unhealthy environments.
The SOFI report’s findings underscore the urgent need for integrated action that goes beyond traditional food security measures. Improving diet quality across the board, enhancing food system resilience, and increasing the economic access of the poorest to diverse and nutritious foods are imperative.
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