Addressing the Rising Global Hunger
Context:
• Given the current situation of the shock of a pandemic, conflicts across borders, and migrant crisis all around the world the number of people on the brink of starvation has doubled from 135 million people, pre-COVID, a year ago to 270 million.

Background:
• The number of people in need of urgent food assistance — estimated at 270 million in 2021 will certainly rise due to a few factors which are happening around the world.
• This includes the crisis in Afghanistan and the conflict between Russia and Ukraine that will have an impact on the living conditions of the people.
• Various estimates have shown that about 150 million children are stunted, nearly 50 million wasted and many others suffer from micronutrient deficiencies.
India’s Assistance:
• In the 2014 UN General Assembly address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “India’s traditional outlook sees the world as one family and that is linked to its Vedic tradition of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”.
• This philosophy can certainly be seen in the humanitarian assistance which India has been providing.
• India’s recent and ongoing humanitarian food assistance to the people of Afghanistan, through the United Nations Food Programme (where half of the population needs urgent food assistance to avert a famine) is an example of its commitment and commendable steps toward humanitarian crises.
• The WFP in Afghanistan has in place a massive supply chain and logistics infrastructure, with hundreds of trucks and staff ensuring that food assistance reaches those who need it the most and no one is excluded.
• This makes each contribution and partnership with the Government of India, a lifesaving one for children, women, and men in need.
• In the past two years, India has provided aid to several countries in Africa and the Middle East/West Asia to overcome natural calamities and the COVID-19 pandemic.

India’s Transformation:
• India which was facing a chronic food shortage has become a surplus food producer, this itself is a milestone.
• This transformation from a chronic food shortage state looking for assistance to a surplus food producer can be attributed to the green revolution.
• In 2020, India produced over 300 million tons of cereals and had built up a food stock of 100 million tonnes.
• One of India’s greatest contributions to equity in food is its National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013 which anchors the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), the Mid-Day meals (MDM), and the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS).
• Today, India’s food safety nets collectively reach over a billion people.