• The UN’s State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report points to a worrying trend on food security at global level.

What are the highlights?

• Absolute numbers of people facing hunger and poor nutrition have always been high.
• However, there was a reduction in the rate of undernourishment since the year 2000.
• But that has slowed from 2013, registering a worrying increase in 2016.
• Around 815 million people endure chronic food deprivation in 2016, as against 775 million in 2014.
• The deprivation is greater among people in conflict-affected and climate change events affected regions.
• Contrastingly, the report says that child undernutrition rates continue to drop.
• However, one in four children is still affected by stunting.

What are the causes?

• The above numbers are averages and do not reflect the disparities among regions, within countries and between States.
• Nevertheless, the common factors making food scarce and expensive for many are:

1. the impact of the economic downturn
2. many violent conflicts
3. fall in commodity export revenues
4. failure of agriculture owing to drought and floods

• The findings represent a setback to all countries trying to meet the Sustainable Development Goal

1. on ending hunger
2. achieving food security
3. improved nutrition

What is the case with India?

• India’s efforts at improving access to food and good nutrition are led by the National Food Security Act.
• There are special nutritional schemes for women and children operated through the States.
• Despite these, 14.5% of the population suffers from undernourishment.
• At the national level, 53% of women are anaemic.
• Thus, Centre and State governments fall short on the commitment to end undernourishment.
• Institutions such as the State Food Commissions have not made a big difference either.
• Distributing nutritious food as a public health measure is still not a political imperative.

What is the way forward?

• Families below the poverty line consume more cereals and less milk compared to the affluent.
• NITI Aayog's report on the role played by rations in shaping household and nutritional security highlights this.
• Complementing rice and wheat with more nutritious food items should be the goal.
• The report on nutritional deficiency calls for evaluating the role played by the Public Distribution System.
• Assessing dietary diversity for those relying on subsidised food is crucial.