As per the CNNS survey, only 6.4% of kids in India, under two get a 'minimum acceptable diet', the rest 93.6% do not get an adequate diet. This would mean that children less than two years around all of us are not getting adequate diet. This could be my helper's child, driver's child, some child in the neighborhood or worse, some child in my family. Is it because of non-availability of adequate food? Government claims to be net-exporter of food, which means that we export more than we import. India is home to 270 million hungry people, as per Oxfam's report, our position is 103rd in 2018 Global Hunger Index.
Ramesh Chand a member of NITI Aayog predicted a demand of 257.70 million tonnes of food grain in 2015, the country produced 275.11 million tonnes that year, it was an year of average monsoon. During the drought year, the supply could barely match the demand. Per capita food grain availability per annum was 186.2 kg in 1991, it was 177.3 kg between 1903-1908, while in 2017 it was 189.1 kg. In 2015 China's per capita per annum food grain availability was 450 kg, Bangladesh 200 kg and US 1100 kg. In 2012 there was 30% gap in actual and recommended dietary intake in rural India, and 20% in urban India. The per capita income has risen 1400 times between 1991 to 2016, from Rs. 6270 to Rs. 93293, the income distribution, however has been skewed. An average Indian does not have enough purchasing power.
Some experts claim that hunger and malnutrition exist due to distribution problems. Some states have surplus production but poor management, lack of cold storage, and transportation facilities leaves many hungry. In the budget speech FM declared that we have achieved self-sufficiency in pulses production this year. We produce more of food grain, that we require except for drought years, and more fruits and vegetables too.
In India, a large number of farmers have committed suicide, particularly in states like Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh. When I look at the farmer suicide data and randomly try to co-relate it to under 2 children malnourishment data, I find that the two states where there are maximum farmer suicides, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra are having 1.2% and 2.2% children with adequate diet. Close to them are Gujarat Telangana and Karnataka at 3.6%. All these states are developed states, then why do children not have enough food to eat?
Malnutrition exists in India, at the same time, when we have reached the Moon and the Mars. It is a battle that needs to be won, but looking at the basic data, we get an idea that it is a winnable battle. How? We have to figure out. CNNS report is an eye opener.
Ramesh Chand a member of NITI Aayog predicted a demand of 257.70 million tonnes of food grain in 2015, the country produced 275.11 million tonnes that year, it was an year of average monsoon. During the drought year, the supply could barely match the demand. Per capita food grain availability per annum was 186.2 kg in 1991, it was 177.3 kg between 1903-1908, while in 2017 it was 189.1 kg. In 2015 China's per capita per annum food grain availability was 450 kg, Bangladesh 200 kg and US 1100 kg. In 2012 there was 30% gap in actual and recommended dietary intake in rural India, and 20% in urban India. The per capita income has risen 1400 times between 1991 to 2016, from Rs. 6270 to Rs. 93293, the income distribution, however has been skewed. An average Indian does not have enough purchasing power.
Some experts claim that hunger and malnutrition exist due to distribution problems. Some states have surplus production but poor management, lack of cold storage, and transportation facilities leaves many hungry. In the budget speech FM declared that we have achieved self-sufficiency in pulses production this year. We produce more of food grain, that we require except for drought years, and more fruits and vegetables too.
In India, a large number of farmers have committed suicide, particularly in states like Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh. When I look at the farmer suicide data and randomly try to co-relate it to under 2 children malnourishment data, I find that the two states where there are maximum farmer suicides, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra are having 1.2% and 2.2% children with adequate diet. Close to them are Gujarat Telangana and Karnataka at 3.6%. All these states are developed states, then why do children not have enough food to eat?
Malnutrition exists in India, at the same time, when we have reached the Moon and the Mars. It is a battle that needs to be won, but looking at the basic data, we get an idea that it is a winnable battle. How? We have to figure out. CNNS report is an eye opener.