Predictably, the Indian establishment has begun doing chest-beating, accusing external forces of attempting to tarnish the (fair) image of India – as the Global Hunger Index (GHI) ranked this nation low yet again and in a more affirmative manner. India, this time, ranked 107 on a scale of 121 nations in the annual GPI review, with nations like Pakistan faring much better. India’s GHI score has decreased from 38.8 points at the turn of the century to an alarming 29.1.The report has admitted however that the country made “substantial progress” on several counts but areas of concern were many, as in the case of child nutrition.
Nearly one fifth of the children in India are undernourished and under-weight, presenting the highest global concentration of such kids. Undernourishment of children is direct proof of the poverty at home. Banishing poverty, per se, does not limit itself to mere sustenance with free quotas of ration, which the BPL families across the country are now entitled to. The central and state governments are virtually “feeding” not just the BPL families but others too by way of subsidies and other gratifications, many of which might even appear as unwarranted. Rather than helping people with means of livelihood, the governments are engaged in the freebies-subsidy raj, in the hope the poor multitudes will reciprocate such gestures with votes.
One might be confused by the fact that global rating agencies are presenting contradictory pictures about this nation. India is certified to be the world’s “fastest-growing” economy. There was a lot of talk in the past about India nearing the economic Super Power status, which is proving to be a mirage. The ‘Mamohanomics’ had projected a ‘trickle down’ theory wherein the economic empowerment of the upper layers of the society would see wealth percolating down to the lowest levels. In the process, though, what happened was the gap between the rich and the poor grew like a monster. The poor are getting poorer and the rich few are getting richer. A sizable middle class is caught in between. Giving the poor free or subsidized rice meant too little in the evolving social contexts. Generations ago, filling the belly meant a life of contentment. Not anymore. Governments cannot afford to spoon-feed its people or employ them in large numbers. What they can rather do is create opportunities for a means of livelihood to all individuals. The virtual stagnation in the small and medium enterprises sector meant there is much less of employment generation today. Income from small farms means too little for sustenance. This is the tragedy of this nation today.