RSTV - The Big Picture: Do Government ' s poverty alleviation programs need a revamp?

• Recent report on Global Hunger Index (GHI) ranked India, 100 out of 119 countries behind North Korea, Bangladesh and Iraq but ahead of Pakistan.
• Serious hunger level is compelled by high child malnutrition and emphasizes for tougher commitment to the social sector.

What is Global Hunger Index? 

• The Global Hunger Index (GHI) is to comprehensively measure and track hunger globally and by country and region.
• The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) is responsible for the publication.
• The Index ranks countries on a 100-point scale, with 0 being the best score (no hunger) and 100 being the worst
• Global Hunger Index highlights successes and failures in hunger reduction and provides understandings into the drivers of hunger.
• The GHI is calculated by taking into account four key parameters:
  1. Shares of undernourished population
  2. Wasted
  3. Stunted children aged under 5
  4. Infant mortality rate of the same age group

• In 2017, India scored 31.4 and was placed at high end of “serious”
• IFPRI’s objective is to provide research-based policy solutions that sustainably reduce poverty and end hunger and malnutrition.

What India should do?

• India needs to focus on poverty issue.
• Good sanitation and clean drinking water is the key to nutrition absorption particularly among children.
• Hygiene defines good health (issues of open defecation, sanitation, women education), which is matter of threat to most of its citizens.
• Overall expenditure on health is abysmally low; therefore, allocation of expenditure on health as well as hygiene needs to be raised.
• Increase awareness about vaccination from diseases is not done in broader form; it needs to be carried forward in a huge capacity.

Poverty Alleviation Programs 

• Poverty alleviation schemes and programs have been modified, consolidated, expanded and improved over time.
• They fall into four broad categories:
  1. Self-employment programs
  2. Wage-employment programs
  3. Public distribution system (PDS)
  4. Other social welfare oriented programs

• Examples: Jan Dhan Yojana, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana, National Social Assistance program (NSAP), Aam Admi Bima Yojana (AABY), etc falls into these four category.
• Successful implementation of these programs will need an appropriate policy framework, adequate funds and an effective delivery mechanism.
• A distinction has to be made between two categories of poor, namely, those who have some skills and thus can take up self-employment and others who are to be provided with wage-employment.

What are the causes of India’s poor performance at GHI? 

1. Improper implementation

• A major hindrance in fighting starvation in India is the lack of proper implementation of government schemes which are directed towards providing food for one and all

2. Corruption is the root cause

• Corruption on the local levels or there is a disinterest among the government officials to ensure that the schemes are properly being carried out.

3. Flawed food distribution system

• Almost 51% of the food delivered is lost to leakages and is sold in the open market for a higher price.

Way forward 

• Address the hunger and nutrition challenge is the enactment of the National Food Security Act.
• Improve nutritional content in food products, steps must be taken towards universal food fortification.
• Adequate funding is required for the effective implementation of any nutrition scheme
• Many of the causes for the occurrence of malnutrition is known, however attention needs to be paid to understanding what prevents the nation from achieving its goals related to nutrition.
• Attention needs to be paid on building neighborhood health and nutrition profiles and carrying out interventions based on identified needs.
• India can focus on building the Mid-day meal scheme along with improving nutritional levels for women during pre and post pregnancy, and ensure child nutrition support up to the age when he/she enters school.
• India has massive integrated child development scheme (ICDS), providing supplementary nutrition, immunization, referral services, health check-up, pre-school non-formal education, and health and nutrition education all aimed at a holistic development of children under six.
• Making and maintaining toilets to make sure that they are used under Swachch Bharat Mission.
• Garbage treatment in cities with adequate capacity before they get into river systems or water bodies to reduce contamination of water.
• Social mobilization can be achieved through self- helps groups.
• Focus more on Primary Health Care units so that basic medical facilities are easily accessible to the public.