The Hunger In India

India's lower castes and ethnic minorities are discriminated against, pushing them further into poverty, say experts Photo: AP

India Has More Hungry People Than Any Other
Country In The World -- The Telegraph

India has more hungry people than any other country in the world, despite the country's emergence as a major economic power.

The Global Hunger Index for 2008 found that 200 million Indians go hungry. Food shortages in one state, Madhya Pradesh, were so serious that they compared with conditions in Ethiopia and Chad in Africa.

The survey ranked India 66th out 88 countries on the Global Hunger Index, taking into account three vital indicators: child malnutrition, rates of child mortality and the calorie deficient population.

"Despite years of robust economic growth, India scored worse than nearly 25 sub-Saharan African countries and all of South Asia, except Bangladesh," the report said.

Experts believe that India's abysmal record, despite self-sufficiency in food grains, is due to corrupt and bureaucratic distribution policies and poor childcare.

The recent rise in global food prices had worsened the situation by harming many poor families. Moreover, India's lower castes and ethnic minorities were discriminated against, pushing them further into poverty and starvation.

Since 2002, India has enjoyed average annual economic growth of around eight per cent, buoyed by a robust stock market, rising industrial output and high property prices. But these gains have not benefited the vast majority of India's 1.2 billion people. More than three quarters live on only 30 pence a day.

My Comment: This feeds the unrest that is in India today.