India's child-wasting rate has been identified as the highest worldwide, standing at 18.7 percent according to the latest Global Hunger Index (GHI) report of 2023. This alarming statistic highlights the prevalent issue of severe undernutrition in the country.

The annual report called GHI, which is published by Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe, goes through a process of peer review. Child wasting  is a measure used to determine GHI scores, which refers to the proportion of children under the age of five with a weight lower than the average for their height.

However, the Global Hunger Index provides a valuable and thorough means of assessing and tracking hunger worldwide, as well as within regions and individual nations. The evaluations are determined by four key factors: insufficient calorie consumption leading toundernourishment, stunted growth in children below the age of five, weight loss or wasting in young children, and the occurrence of child mortality before reaching five years old. A GHI score is determined by the values of four indicators and represents the extent of hunger on a scale of 0 to 100, where 0 indicates no hunger and 100 indicates extreme hunger.

The indicators, which include undernourishment, child stunting, child wasting, and child mortality, are a reflection of both insufficient caloric intake and deficiencies in essential micronutrients.

The child wasting rate in the country surpasses that of both Yemen (at 14.4 percent) and Sudan (at 13.7 percent), placing it in second position among these conflict-ridden nations.

Moreover, India ranks 111th out of 124 nations in the index, scoring lower than its neighboring countries including Pakistan (102nd), Bangladesh (81st), Nepal (69th), and Sri Lanka (60th). The country's ranking declined significantly, falling four positions from 107th in 2022.

India was assigned a score of 28.7 on the GHI, placing it in the category of 'serious' hunger. Some other countries in this classification category include Pakistan with a rate of 26.6, Afghanistan with a rate of 30.6, Zambia with a rate of 29.3, Botswana with a rate of 20, as well as Sudan with a rate of 27.

The report's findings were dismissed by the Union government , criticizing the methodology as flawed and raising concerns about its accuracy in assessing hunger.

The Union Ministry of Women and Child Development has introduced a mobile app called Poshan Tracker. According to the government's press note on October 12, 2023, this app consistently shows a child wasting rate below 7.2% per month, which is significantly lower compared to the 18.7% recorded in the Global Hunger Index (GHI).

A recent report reveals that approximately 16.6 percent of the population in India is currently experiencing the issue of undernourishment, while the under-five mortality rate stands at 3.1 percent.

The report emphasized the importance of acknowledging and resolving the difficulties experienced by small-scale farmers in India.

Children who suffer from wasting commonly have weakened immune systems, are at greater risk for delays in development, and are highly susceptible to mortality, particularly if the wasting is severe.

The prevalence of anaemia among young Indian women, aged 15 to 24, is alarmingly high at 58.1 percent, just above the rates observed in Nigeria, as highlighted in the report.

According to the report, UNICEF  data indicates that children who have undernourished mothers, characterized by low weight and height, are more likely to experience stunting and wasting. Moreover, it was noted that regions where maternal undernutrition is prevalent also tend to have higher rates of child undernutrition.

In terms of the index, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka have all outperformed India in ranking, with Pakistan at 102, Bangladesh at 81, Nepal at 69th, and Sri Lanka at 60.

The government's reaction to the situation

The GHI 2023 report has been met with sharp criticism from the Ministry of Women and Child Development.

The hunger index is an inaccurate gauge and faces significant methodological challenges. Three of the four indicators utilized to compute the index pertain to children's well-being and may not accurately reflect the overall population's health status. According to the statement, the significant and fourth indicator, known as the "The accuracy of the "Proportion of Undernourished (PoU) Population" data depends on a small-scale survey involving only 3,000 participants.

According to the ministry, the Poshan Tracker consistently shows child wasting rates below 7.2% per month, while the GHI 2023 reported a child wasting rate of 18.7%. Furthermore, scanty proof exists to suggest that hunger directly contributes to child mortality, which is just one of the four indicators.

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TheIndian government has refuted the rankings of GHI 2023, expressing reservations about the methodology and insinuating potential bias in the report, particularly given the timing of elections.

The GHI 2023 report is claimed by the WCD Ministry to have notable methodological problems. It argues that the inclusion of child health indicators in the calculation only accounts for 3 out of 4 factors, failing to consider the overall population.

The usage of a small sample size of 3,000 for the "Proportion of Undernourished Population" indicator in India, considering its population in crores, raises doubts.

The ministry has pointed out a considerable difference in the rates of child wasting. According to the Poshan Tracker, the rate remains consistently below 7.2 percent, while the GHI 2023 reports a much higher rate of 18.7 percent.
The connection with child mortality is unwarranted, as it also refutes the belief that hunger is the only cause.

The ranking of India highlights the ongoing obstacles in tackling hunger and malnutrition .

The report highlights the urgent necessity to effectively address these concerns, particularly child malnutrition and undernutrition, in order to safeguard the welfare of the country's inhabitants.