An undeniable problem

The Global Hunger Index report, 2024, has ranked India 105th out of 127 countries.

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Last year, in its 18th edition, the report had put India at the 111th position out of 125 countries. Despite minor fluctuations-up or down-the situation has been grim for India. The Indian government has conventionally been dismissive of such reports, questioning the credibility of the methodology and even citing malafide intentions. Published by Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe, the report, however, needs to be seen through a broader prism. For an India that is rising on all fronts, steep socio-economic inequality has been a black spot, which alone could explain the prevailing hunger in a food-sufficient nation. Rather than denying the problem upfront, the Indian government should take a steady course to limit the scourge. Hunger, it is evident, is a global issue, and Indian masses are not immune to it. India's GHI score of 27.3 is indicative of a serious level of hunger, which is further compounded by systemic challenges that hinder progress toward the fulfillment of United Nations Sus