THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 16 July 2020 Fighting Hunger (Indian Express)

Fighting Hunger (Indian Express)

Mains Paper 2:Social Justice 
Prelims level: State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2020 report
Mains level: Highlights of the report and its major loopholes towards achievement of SDGs

Context: 

  • The UN has warned in its recently released State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2020 report that achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of zero hunger might not be possible by 2030. 
  • The report estimates 690 million people suffering from hunger globally in 2019, 10 million more than the previous year.

Key highlights of the report:

  • The Covid-19 pandemic, and the global recession caused by it, will without doubt make matters worse, the report warns, with 130 million more suffering from chronic hunger in 2020. 
  • In 2019, Asia had the highest number of hungry people (381 million), followed by Africa (250 million), and Latin America and the Caribbean (48 million). 
  • However, by 2030, Africa is estimated by the UN to account for around more than half of the world’s hungry people by 2030. 
  • The lowest-cost healthy diet is estimated to cost, on an average, more than $1.90—which is more than the international poverty threshold—and around three billion people across the globe are unable to afford this. 
  • Rising food deprivation will exacerbate the existing problem of nutrition security.
  • The largest impact, both for the present as well as the future, will be of hunger amongst children—191 million children under the age of five are currently undernourished. 
  • While India saw under-5 undernutrition decline by around 60 million over the last one and a half decade, from 21.7% in 2004-06 to 14% in 2017-19, and stunting has also come down, experts fear the pandemic could erode some of this progress. 

Suggestions: 

  • The UN has pitched for clubbing direct cash transfers with in-kind transfers to ensure food security and diet diversity, though, in India’s case.
  • It talks of the inefficiencies of the PDS and calls for reducing subsidies and redirecting these to direct cash transfer. 
  • Malnutrition, as estimated by FAO earlier, may cost nations 4-5% of their GDPs. 
  • Given how ensuring food security gets more urgent in the post-Covid-19 world.

Conclusion:

Prelims Questions:

Q.1) With reference to the Operation Samudra Setu, consider the following statements:

1. This operation was undertaken by the Indian Navy in close coordination with Ministry of External Affairs, Home Affairs, health and various other agencies of the Government of India and State Governments.
2. Indian Navy has previously undertaken similar evacuation operations as part of Operation Sukoon in 2006 (Beirut) and Operation Rahat in 2015 (Yemen).

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: C

Mains Questions:

Q.1) According to UN report what are the key barriers by achieving SDG of zero hunger might not be possible by 2030. Elucidate with examples.

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