INDIA

Hungry for Equality

The second most populous country in the world, India has enjoyed steady economic growth but high levels of poverty, food insecurity and malnutrition persist. India is home to a quarter of all undernourished people worldwide, so it’s a key to tackling hunger on a global scale. That’s why WFP is on the ground, working to support India’s quest for self-sufficient food systems.

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Despite high levels of economic growth, serious poverty, food insecurity and malnutrition persist across India – and levels of inequality and social exclusion are very high.

21.5%

of people live on less than $1.90 a day

1/4

of the world’s undernourished people live in India

1.3B

population

Growth AMIDST Poverty

In the last two decades, per capita income in India has more than tripled, yet the minimum dietary intake fell. The gap between rich and poor increased during this period of high economic growth.

While India has made tremendous progress over the last few
decades in food grain production and a reduction in malnutrition rates, it continues to bear a huge burden of food and nutrition insecurity, ranking 107th out of 121 countries on the 2022 Global Hunger Index.

WFP’s Work in INDIA

WFP has been working in India since 1963. With the Government now providing its own food distribution systems, we’re supporting their mission – working to help them become even more efficient and reach the people who need them most.

Transforming the Targeted Public Distribution System

We’re working to improve the efficiency, accountability and transparency of India’s own subsidized food distribution system, which brings supplies of wheat, rice, sugar and kerosene oil to around 800 million poor people across the country. WFP ensures that food reaches those who need it most, working with the Government to reform and strengthen the system, which is one of the world’s largest.

Fortification of Government-Distributed Food

To boost the nutritional value of the Government’s Midday Meal school feeding program, WFP is pioneering the multi-micronutrient fortification of school meals. The pilot project saw rice fortified with iron, which was distributed in a single district, resulting in a 20 percent drop in anaemia. We also help tackle malnutrition by fortifying food given to babies and young children in the Kerala State.

Food Insecurity Mapping and Monitoring

And we our own Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping software to identify India’s most food insecure areas, which allows policy and relief work to be targeted appropriately. WFP is also supporting the government’s Poverty and Human Development Monitoring Agency in establishing a State-level Food Security Analysis Unit, working towards the goal of achieving Zero Hunger.

WFP’s PRograms