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| Hunger in India states 'alarming' | Hunger in India states 'alarming' |
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| Twelve Indian states have "alarming" levels of hunger while the situation is "extremely alarming" in the state of Madhya Pradesh, says a new report. | Twelve Indian states have "alarming" levels of hunger while the situation is "extremely alarming" in the state of Madhya Pradesh, says a new report. |
| Madhya Pradesh's nutrition problems, it says, are comparable to the African countries of Ethiopia and Chad. | Madhya Pradesh's nutrition problems, it says, are comparable to the African countries of Ethiopia and Chad. |
| India has more people suffering hunger - a figure above 200 million - than any other country in the world, it says. | India has more people suffering hunger - a figure above 200 million - than any other country in the world, it says. |
| The report, released as part of the 2008 Global Hunger Index, ranks India at 66 out 88 countries. | The report, released as part of the 2008 Global Hunger Index, ranks India at 66 out 88 countries. |
| 'Scored worse' | 'Scored worse' |
| The hunger index has been released by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) along with Welthungerhlife and the University of California. | The hunger index has been released by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) along with Welthungerhlife and the University of California. |
| It measures hunger on three indicators which include child malnutrition, rates of child mortality and the number of people who are calorie deficient. | It measures hunger on three indicators which include child malnutrition, rates of child mortality and the number of people who are calorie deficient. |
| The problem of hunger is measured in five categories - low, moderate, serious, alarming or extremely alarming. | The problem of hunger is measured in five categories - low, moderate, serious, alarming or extremely alarming. |
| The survey says that not one of the 17 states in India that were studied were in the low or moderate hunger category. | The survey says that not one of the 17 states in India that were studied were in the low or moderate hunger category. |
| "Despite years of robust economic growth, India scored worse than nearly 25 sub-Saharan African countries and all of South Asia, except Bangladesh," the report says. | "Despite years of robust economic growth, India scored worse than nearly 25 sub-Saharan African countries and all of South Asia, except Bangladesh," the report says. |
| The best performing state was Punjab, which has a 'serious' hunger problem and does less well than developing countries such as Gabon, Vietnam and Honduras. | The best performing state was Punjab, which has a 'serious' hunger problem and does less well than developing countries such as Gabon, Vietnam and Honduras. |
| About 60% children in Madhya Pradesh state are malnourished | About 60% children in Madhya Pradesh state are malnourished |
| "When Indian states are compared to countries in the Global Hunger Index, [the central Indian state of] Madhya Pradesh ranks between Ethiopia and Chad," it says. | "When Indian states are compared to countries in the Global Hunger Index, [the central Indian state of] Madhya Pradesh ranks between Ethiopia and Chad," it says. |
| India is long known to have some of the highest rates of child malnutrition and mortality in under-fives in the world. | India is long known to have some of the highest rates of child malnutrition and mortality in under-fives in the world. |
| According to the Indian government statistics two years ago, around 60% of more than 10 million children in the state were malnourished. | According to the Indian government statistics two years ago, around 60% of more than 10 million children in the state were malnourished. |
| Nutrition experts say the abysmal record is due to an inadequate access to food, poor feeding practices and poor childcare practices in India. | Nutrition experts say the abysmal record is due to an inadequate access to food, poor feeding practices and poor childcare practices in India. |
| And now the rise in the global food prices has reduced the food-buying capacity of many poor families, making their situation worse. | And now the rise in the global food prices has reduced the food-buying capacity of many poor families, making their situation worse. |
| In the past year food prices have increased significantly, but people's incomes haven't kept pace, forcing many families further into hunger, experts say. | In the past year food prices have increased significantly, but people's incomes haven't kept pace, forcing many families further into hunger, experts say. |
| The report says "improving child nutrition is of utmost urgency in most Indian states". | The report says "improving child nutrition is of utmost urgency in most Indian states". |
| "All states also need to improve strategies to facilitate inclusive economic growth, ensure food sufficiency and reduce child mortality," it adds. | "All states also need to improve strategies to facilitate inclusive economic growth, ensure food sufficiency and reduce child mortality," it adds. |