India’s ranking of 105th in the 2024 Global Hunger Index (GHI)[1] raises profound concerns about the nation’s trajectory of progress, especially considering the government’s portrayal of India as an emerging global power. With a population exceeding 1.45 billion[2], India stands as one of the world’s most populous nations, yet it faces persistent challenges in securing basic human needs such as food, healthcare, and sanitation. Despite significant strides in technology and infrastructure, epitomized by initiatives like ‘Digital India,[3]’ the country’s ongoing struggle with hunger casts serious doubts on its developmental priorities.
A staggering 83 million Indians remain below the poverty line, living on less than $2.15 per day—a grim reality that underscores the dissonance between India’s economic growth and its failure to achieve equitable progress. Though the nation boasts considerable foreign reserves, amounting to $689.5 billion[4], stark disparities persist. Approximately 163 million people continue to live in multidimensional poverty, deprived of essentials such as healthcare, education, and adequate living conditions. This reflects a broader crisis, wherein financial poverty coexists with an inability to meet fundamental human needs, which has severe implications for India’s future.
Urban areas are far from immune to these challenges. Nearly 100 million people[5] live in slums, often in deplorable conditions, while 1.8 million[6] remain homeless. The scourge of hunger and poverty transcends rural boundaries, permeating the cities. Compounding this crisis, 15% of the population—around 210 million people—lack access to basic sanitation facilities, a factor that exacerbates health issues and perpetuates the cycle of poverty, particularly among the most marginalized communities.
One of the most glaring contradictions in India’s development narrative is the misallocation of financial resources. For the fiscal year 2024-25, India has allocated $74.3 billion to defense[7], representing 15% of government expenditure. In stark contrast, only 5.5% of GDP is directed toward infrastructure and welfare programs. This imbalance suggests a prioritization of militarization over addressing fundamental issues like food security and healthcare, a misalignment reflected in India’s dismal ranking on the GHI.
The Modi-led BJP government has frequently faced criticism for its economic policies, which often favor large-scale infrastructure projects and global image-building at the expense of social welfare. India’s focus on high-profile technological advancements, such as space exploration, and its substantial defense spending appear misaligned with the urgent need to tackle hunger, poverty, and inequality. Moreover, systemic corruption within the government further undermines efforts to implement effective policies aimed at alleviating these issues.
Particularly alarming is the impact of India’s hunger crisis on children. A Harvard study revealed[8] that 6.7 million Indian children experience “zero-food” days—24 hours without eating—accounting for nearly half of all such children in 92 countries. In India, 10.4% of the study population consists of these zero-food children, placing the country on par with economically weaker nations like Guinea, Benin, and Liberia. The study highlights that malnourished children comprise 19.3% of India’s total population, a stark contrast to the 0.1% seen in developed nations like Costa Rica, underscoring India’s failure to provide adequate nutrition for its next generation.
Hunger and malnutrition in India are not distributed equally across the population. Minority groups, particularly Muslims and Dalits, bear a disproportionate burden due to systemic discrimination and exclusion. These communities, historically marginalized, continue to face economic exclusion and are further disadvantaged by policies that exacerbate religious and caste-based inequities. The hunger crisis in India thus reflects not only a failure of economic policy but also a broader failure of social justice and equality.
India’s global image, often shaped by its powerful entertainment industry, particularly Bollywood, perpetuates a narrative of wealth, romance, and prosperity. This portrayal serves to mask the harsh realities of widespread hunger and poverty. Bollywood, as a cultural force, aids the government in diverting attention from pressing domestic issues, presenting an illusion of national progress that belies the suffering of millions. While films often showcase empowered women and thriving communities, the lived experience for many Indian women remains one of deprivation, violence, and marginalization.
The disparity between Bollywood’s depiction of India and the reality of its citizens’ lives highlights the contradictions in the country’s development narrative. India’s low ranking on the Global Hunger Index serves as a clear indicator that, despite advancements in certain sectors, the nation has failed to prioritize the basic human needs of its population, particularly food security and poverty alleviation. The government’s focus on militarization and global image-building, alongside systemic corruption and inequality, has left millions of Indians vulnerable to hunger and poverty.
For India to realize its aspirations of becoming a global superpower, it must shift its focus toward human development and welfare. Without addressing the root causes of hunger and inequality, the nation’s ambitions will remain hollow, built on a foundation of widespread human suffering. The international community, particularly organizations like the United Nations, must hold India accountable for policies that perpetuate inequality and exacerbate hunger.
[1]https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/list-of-countries-with-highest-global-hunger-index-1729177137-1
[2]https://epaper.hindustantimes.com/Home/ShareArticle?OrgId=1275bdd68b0&imageview=0#:~:text=India’s%20population%201.45bn%2C%20to%20be%20twice%20China’s%20in%202085&text=New%20Delhi%20%3A%20By%202100%2C%20India’s,the%20United%20Nations%20on%20Thursday.
[3] https://www.meity.gov.in/sites/upload_files/dit/files/Digital%20India.pdf
[4] https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/indias-forex-reserves-rises-to-a-fresh-all-time-high-of-689-45-billion/articleshow/113531603.cms
[5] https://questionofcities.org/story-of-slums-in-laws-judgments-and-housing-schemes/
[6] https://questionofcities.org/story-of-slums-in-laws-judgments-and-housing-schemes/
[7] https://www.defensenews.com/land/2024/08/06/despite-security-threats-indias-defense-budget-remains-static/
[8] https://www.linkedin.com/posts/microsave_dietary-diversity-for-children-below-five-activity-7236627647730991105-VzUv/
