Indian rulers forget its poor
New Delhi: India is failing its rural poor with 230 million people being undernourished – the highest for any country in the world. Malnutrition accounts for nearly 50% of child deaths in India as every third adult (aged 15-49 years) is reported to be thin (BMI less than 18.5). According to the latest report on the state of food insecurity in rural India, more than 1.5 million children are at risk of becoming malnourished because of rising global food prices. While general inflation declined from a 13-year high exceeding 12% in July 2008 to less than 5% by the end of January 2009, the inflation for food articles doubled from 5% to over 11% during the same period. Foodgrain harvest during 2008-09 is estimated to be a record 228 million tonnes. However, the requirement for the national population would exceed 250 million tonnes by 2015. India ranks 94th ir the Global Hunger Index of 119 countries, the report said. Brought out by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), the report points to some staggering figures. More than 27% of the world’s undernourished population lives in India while 43% of children (under 5 years) in the country are underweight. The figure is among the highest in the world and is much higher than the global average of 25% and also higher than sub-Saharan Africa’s figure of 28%.
-(Times of India, Feb 27, 2009)
Only 11% get higher education
Mysore: Only 11% had the access to higher education in the country in the year 2006-07, which is too low compared to 23% world average, University Grants Commission Chairman Prof. Sukhadeo Thorat said. Recognising the grave need the 11th Plan aims to increase the GER to 21% by the end of 12th plan with an interim target of 15% by 2012. He was delivering his convocation address at the 89th convocation of the University of Mysore at the Crawford Hall on March 7, 2009.
-(Deccan Herald, March 8, 2009)
