In the wake of the present tension between India and Pakistan, the pacifists are demanding our Government to look after the hungry millions instead of waging a war. Their statements prompted me to do a research on the situation. As I browsed for more data, fragmented newspaper images of long kisaan marches, protests of farmers with dead rats on their mouth, even suicides of farmers hovered round my mind. I felt uncomfortable. For a few moments, the IAF attacks retaliating the Pulwama tragedy faded away from my mind. The guilt in me taunted my unawareness for not questioning our Government about taking effective steps to eradicate the plight of the hungry poor Indians who die silent deaths every single day.
According to International Food Policy Research Institute, India ranks 100th among 119 nations on the Global Hunger Index Report prepared by the Institute. The parameters of this report are, - undernourishment, child wasting, child stunting, and child mortality. Though India has done better over the past 25 years in fighting hunger, but so has every other country. The picture does not remain rosy anymore.
India stepped on economic reforms in 1991, yet, the reforms have done less for development compared to other countries in South Asia. India's poor neighbours, Nepal and Bangladesh, have still managed to beat India in fighting the most basic challenge of development - hunger.
In 2017, 21% of Indian children suffer from wasting, that is, have a weight lower than normal for their height. Nearly 40% of Indian children are stunted due to hunger and about 4.8% infants under the age of 5 die every year.
Why such an abysmal performance from India when the country has implemented two large-scale national programmes on nutrition, namely, the Integrated Child Development Services and the National Health Mission? May be because of the lack of proper coverage. But, isn't that awkward in the status of digital boom in India continuously claimed by our present Government? Why the hunger tragedy is failing to shake the juggernaut of the Government? Why is the Government trying to wash our eyes with the death of 50 soldiers when there are million civilians dying due to the faulty food policies of the Government? Is the Government trying to shut up the ever-inquisitive educated citizens with the soft spot of 'soldiers saving our borders' gimmick?
The questions will haunt me until I get apt answers.Till then, I will keep on questioning our Government, because, questioning the Government is my fundamental right as an Indian.
According to International Food Policy Research Institute, India ranks 100th among 119 nations on the Global Hunger Index Report prepared by the Institute. The parameters of this report are, - undernourishment, child wasting, child stunting, and child mortality. Though India has done better over the past 25 years in fighting hunger, but so has every other country. The picture does not remain rosy anymore.
India stepped on economic reforms in 1991, yet, the reforms have done less for development compared to other countries in South Asia. India's poor neighbours, Nepal and Bangladesh, have still managed to beat India in fighting the most basic challenge of development - hunger.
In 2017, 21% of Indian children suffer from wasting, that is, have a weight lower than normal for their height. Nearly 40% of Indian children are stunted due to hunger and about 4.8% infants under the age of 5 die every year.
Why such an abysmal performance from India when the country has implemented two large-scale national programmes on nutrition, namely, the Integrated Child Development Services and the National Health Mission? May be because of the lack of proper coverage. But, isn't that awkward in the status of digital boom in India continuously claimed by our present Government? Why the hunger tragedy is failing to shake the juggernaut of the Government? Why is the Government trying to wash our eyes with the death of 50 soldiers when there are million civilians dying due to the faulty food policies of the Government? Is the Government trying to shut up the ever-inquisitive educated citizens with the soft spot of 'soldiers saving our borders' gimmick?
The questions will haunt me until I get apt answers.Till then, I will keep on questioning our Government, because, questioning the Government is my fundamental right as an Indian.
