What meal data reveals about hunger

Having two meals a day doesn't guarantee improved food security in India

- VACHASPATI SHUKLA & SANTOSH KUMAR DASH

The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2023 (SOFI) report estimates 74 million undernourished people in India between 2020 and 2022, highlighting widespread food insecurity and hunger. The Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2023 ranks India 111th out of 125 countries. This index underscores high levels of child stunting, wasting, and undernourishment, conveying food inadequacy in the population on a day-to-day basis. While the GHI has sparked significant media and political attention, it also underscores the persistent challenges of food insecurity in India.

Meal consumption patterns International statistics reveal widespread hunger, but exact numbers of individuals going to bed hungry each night are not easily available. The recently released NSS Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) 2022-23 provides data on the number of meals consumed in the 30 days preceding the survey. A "meal" is defined as one or more readily eatable (generally cooked) food items, typically with cereals or cereal products as the major component. The unit record data from the survey allows for assessing individuals unable to obtain at least two meals a day, or 60 meals over 30 days. Those consuming fewer than 60 meals a month can be considered as experiencing hunger, with their proportion serving as an indicator of hunger intensity.