Hunger in South Asia

[Evil Flare]

As top officials from multiple ministries worked over the weekend re-crafting a draft legislation deemed inadequate to deliver food to the poorest, a grim reminder of the depth of deprivation in India emerged from its most populous state.

It is people like these that Congress President and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi wants covered by a national Food Security Bill. That is why she pushed the UPA’s top ministers back to the drawing board after rejecting last week a draft about to be presented to the Cabinet.Frail, malnourished children eating moist lumps of mud laced with silica — a raw material for glass sheets and soap — because they are not officially classified as poor and so ineligible for official help: This is what an HT reporter saw in a village of eastern Uttar Pradesh.
Under an unusually hot April sun, skinny, hungry children silently poked around on the dusty edges of a stone quarry in Ganne village, 45 km east of Allahabad and a 12-km walk from the nearest road.
“It tastes like powdered gram, so we eat it,” said Soni (5), a listless girl with a protruding belly. With most families reduced to one or two daily meals of boiled rice and salt — with a watery vegetable on a lucky day — the mud is a free but deadly option at the 20 stone quarries sustaining the poorest villagers.
These families are not eligible for subsidised food and other state programmes, though each of a family of five earns about Rs 400 a month.

UP’s official poverty line is Rs 435 per person per month. It is people like these that Congress President and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi wants covered by a national Food Security Bill. That is why she pushed the UPA’s top ministers back to the drawing board after rejecting last week a draft about to be presented to the Cabinet.



Not enough food, so children learn to eat mud- Hindustan Times

 

[sparklingway]

Poverty across the world shatters my heart everytime I read about it.

India has to come to terms with its poverty problems. There have been steps taken in this regard, but surprisingly haven't been as successful as its other endeavors over the pact decade. I hope (dreamn, maybe) by the end of the next decade children across India, Pakistan and the entire globe have guaranteed access to food, education and health. This is a global problem for mankind to tackle.

 

[Avatar]

Poverty across the world shatters my heart everytime I read about it.

India has to come to terms with its poverty problems. There have been steps taken in this regard, but surprisingly haven't been as successful as its other endeavors over the pact decade. I hope (dreamn, maybe) by the end of the next decade children across India, Pakistan and the entire globe have guaranteed access to food, education and health. This is a global problem for mankind to tackle.

You're being very optimistic, kind sir.

40 years ago the situation was far worse. India was the begging bowl of Asia and today India has emerged as a food donor. Eradication of poverty is a slow but continuous process.

I assure you that if everything goes well then by 2050 a day shall come when nobody on this subcontinent will have to go to bed hungry. Population control and intensive farming methods along with eradication of poverty are the key solutions.

 

[sparklingway]

40 years ago the situation was far worse. India was the begging bowl of Asia and today India has emerged as a food donor. Eradication of poverty is a slow but continuous process.

Indeed. It's a straight and simple fact that global hunger isn't due to shortage of food but due to problems of distribution and access to resources. The world has produced more calories per capita than required for almost all but a couple of years. India's problems epitomize the uneven distribution and inequality. As you said, India is a food exporting country now and food exporters need not have a shortage of staple crops. Hunger across India, and across the subcontinent, is primarily (should I say solely?) due to uneven distribution of food.

I assure you that if everything goes well then by 2050 a day shall come when nobody on this subcontinent will have to go to bed hungry. Population control and intensive farming methods along with eradication of poverty are the key solutions.

I hope so that subcontinent is able to achieve the MDGs before any other region for we do not suffer much from geographical obstacles in meeting our economic or agricultural problems.

 

[VrSoLdIeRs]

the elders indulge into war but its the children who suffer.... i remember the state of iraqi children when iraq was under those ridiculous sanctions!!!

 

[EagleEyes]

‘After terrorism, food security is Pakistan’s greatest threat’

* WB delegation told agriculture sector functioning on loans and credit * Farmers need assurance that their input costs will be met

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Food security apart from terrorism is the most serious threat to Pakistan, and there is a need to utilise all available resources to enhance agriculture output in the country, a World Bank delegation visiting the Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) was informed.

The WB delegation, led by Task Leader Ann Rennie, held meetings with ZTBL senior management on Tuesday.

The delegation was informed that Pakistan is facing a shortfall of Rs 419 billion in agriculture credits, as the credit requirements is around Rs 679 billion annually, but the target set by the central bank for the current fiscal year is Rs 260 billion only.

It was acknowledged that Pakistan lacks “tailor made credit policies” in its agriculture sector, and the ZTBL officials said they will formulate plans to provide cheaper credit for small loans, and a higher mark-up for the large loans.

Briefing the delegation, ZTBL President Zaka Ashraf said the agriculture credit demand in the country was growing mainly due to higher input costs.

Loans: During the last fiscal year, five major commercial banks have provided Rs 111 billion in agriculture credits, ZTBL provided Rs75 billion, private banks provided Rs 42 billion and the Punjab provincial departments have loaned Rs 5 billion to the agriculture sector.

The WB delegation was informed that higher credit disbursements were needed to increase the use of technology at the farm sector.

Change: Responding to queries by the members of the delegation that farmers were reluctant to adopt change in Pakistan, the ZTBL executives said that market mechanism was a major hurdle for promoting modern agriculture in country.

“Higher produce decreases crop prices, causing loss to the farmers,” ZTBL Executive Vice President Amna Imran said.

She said that ZTBL has introduced plans for optimum utilisation of available resources to enhance agriculture output, with special focus on rain-fed areas that do not have constant crop output.

Assurance: “The farmers need guarantees that they would at least get the input cost at the time of harvest,” she said, adding that ZTBL has launched a crop purchase mechanism for higher farm output.

She said ZTBL is in touch with food processing firms to guarantee the purchase of total harvest at certain price.

“We are getting encouraging response from the farmers over this plans, whereas the food processing companies would benefit with a guaranteed supply of peanuts, potatoes, etc,” Amna said.

The WB delegation was informed that ZTBL has a large outreach across the country and initiating any program in the agriculture sector would be beneficial, through the bank. The mark-up rate of ZTBL is at 8 percent compared to more than 16 percent by the commercial banks.

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[SRK]

Poverty, unemployment,inequality,lack of education and infrastructure are the areas where we need to focus our attention and strive to eradicate them. India Pakistan should co-operate ,because both can't develop without each other assistance,our fate,destiny is intertwined believe it or it.

The 63 years of hatred didnt allow us to grow and focus our energies to the right direction, even 10-15 years of co-operation we will take as a case study ,it would yield tremendous growth and prosperity.

Ishwar Allah Tere jaha main nafrat kyu hai jang hai kyu?
Tera dil to itna bada hai ,insan ka dil tang hai kyu?

 

[Gazzi]

You're being very optimistic, kind sir.

40 years ago the situation was far worse. India was the begging bowl of Asia and today India has emerged as a food donor. Eradication of poverty is a slow but continuous process.

I assure you that if everything goes well then by 2050 a day shall come when nobody on this subcontinent will have to go to bed hungry. Population control and intensive farming methods along with eradication of poverty are the key solutions.

Charity begins at home................enough said

 

[Draft]

Indeed. It's a straight and simple fact that global hunger isn't due to shortage of food but due to problems of distribution and access to resources. The world has produced more calories per capita than required for almost all but a couple of years. India's problems epitomize the uneven distribution and inequality. As you said, India is a food exporting country now and food exporters need not have a shortage of staple crops. Hunger across India, and across the subcontinent, is primarily (should I say solely?) due to uneven distribution of food.



I hope so that subcontinent is able to achieve the MDGs before any other region for we do not suffer much from geographical obstacles in meeting our economic or agricultural problems.

Add to that corruption. If government allocates Rs 100 to every person, then going through all the processes of bureaucracy the person will finally get only Rs 1. I dont know about other countries, but this is how it is in India.

 

[Choppers]

The Govt. has already drafted a Food Security bill which is expected to be passed soon.

 

[Al-zakir]

It's unfortunate that Pakistan can not become self sufficient on food. You have so much fertile land yet either unused or not being used properly.

Take an example form BD for god sake. Perhpas learn from our farmer or may import some if you like. We got no land like you yet try to use every inch to grow food. We have triple our food production since seperation.

What are you guys doing???

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Title changed and threads merged

 

[Pride]

It's unfortunate that Pakistan can not become self sufficient on food. You have so much fertile land yet either unused or not being used properly.

Take an example form BD for god sake. Perhpas learn from our farmer or may import some if you like. We got no land like you yet try to use every inch to grow food. We have triple our food production since seperation.

What are you guys doing???

Sir this is an appropriate question and needs to be asked for whole South Asia.. The state (UP) which has been mentioned in this article is most fertile plane in India (may be even in subcontinent) still they have least per capita income.. Main reasons are -

1) Lack of advanced farming techniques/equipments. Indian Punjab uses better equipments and produce most hectare in comparison to other states.

2) Proper distribution channel for selling grains in market and getting right price for the same is difficult. There are so many brokers/ Black marketeers in between to grab most of the money.

3) There is so much gap between different classes in South Asia, that we are losing focus on socialism and being capitalist day by day..