The issue with using data for comparison

Global comparisons even for basic economic indicators are always hard to make. The dominance of an unorganised sector, and the tracking system used, makes it hard to get the right numbers

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The Global Hunger Report evoked mixed emotions in India. Those who believe India is the best performing economy in the world have taken the view that the report is disparaging and needs to be junked. Those on the other side feel that this is a wakeup call for the government to do something as growth which does not address the needs of the poorest sections is not one to take pride in. How are we to read these global reports in general? The interesting thing is that the Global Hunger Report has been coming out every year for the last two decades and our rank has always been very low in the region of 100. Therefore, those who find this objectionable should remember that the methodology followed has been something we have not had a problem with since 2000. In fact in the past this data was used to push the case for more grass root reforms by various governments.

As to the concept of hunger, the critics have said that using 4 parameters such as malnutrition and children being under weight, short and dying early (infant mortality) is not really capturing hunger. This can be debated as even within the country we find it hard to measure poverty numbers based on calories and have reverted to an income based approach.