A food sufficient India needs to be hunger-free too

News: There is a need to end hunger and food insecurity, which is also a goal enshrined in Sustainable Development Goals. Further, nutritional security is required to counter malnourishment.

1. Food Security: It is defined as a condition in which all people, at all times, have reliable access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle.

2. The concept of food security stands on four pillars, namely food availability, food access, utilization, and stability.

3. Initiatives taken by India to ensure food security include passing of National Food Security Act, 2013, Public Distribution System (PDS), Mid-Day Meal Scheme, Food Fortification.

4. Sustainable Development Goals (SDG): They are a set of 17 goals that were adopted by all United Nations member states in 2015, with the idea of ending poverty, protecting the planet and ensuring that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030.

5. Global Hunger Index (GHI): It is a comprehensive tool used to measure and track hunger at global, regional, and national levels.

6. It considers 4 indicators to rank countries: A) Undernourishment B) Child Stunting C) Child Wasting D) Child Mortality

7. India is ranked 105/127 in the Global Hunger Index, 2024.