August 8, 2024
Dola Sen’s Zero Hour mention on the need to address the problem of undernourishment in India
Sir, I thank you for giving me the opportunity to raise my Zero Hour submission here. Till date, hamare Vikshit Bharat aur Amrit Kaal ki mahol mein 76 per cent children are the victims of food poverty. UNICEF ki data ke anusa, 92 hungry desho ki andar Bharat 84th position pe hain; so unfortunate. Very recently, United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization’s data revealed that India is the largest contributor to global under-nutrition with approximately 194.4 million people, that is 14.37 per cent of our population, lacking sufficient nutrition. Over half of Indian women are anaemic; so saddening. The major causes of under-nourishment are lack of access and unaffordability of nutritious food. Inequal distribution of wealth and property plays a major role in creating this lack of access. The top one per cent of the population controls over 40 per cent of India’s total wealth. On the other hand, the National Family Health Survey-5 reveals that 20 per cent of the children in India suffer from wasting, that is, low weight-for-height and 36 per cent suffer from stunting, that is, low height-for-age. Moreover, India accounts for 49 per cent of global burden of wasting, highlighting a significant challenge in combating from this acute malnutrition. The statistics show an urgent need for comprehensive and effective measures to address and mitigate child nutrition across the country. We cannot address under-nourishment without addressing rising food prices. Food inflation rose over nine per cent in June. This is mainly on the back of increase in price rise of vegetables, pulses, and cereals. Urgent steps must be taken to address the problem. I urge upon the Minister and the Union Government to address these alarming trends by intensifying efforts to tackle malnutrition through targeted nutritional programme and improving maternal health as well in the country and…
