Hunger level: 8216;India behind China,Pak8217;

8220;India has lagged behind in improving its Global Hunger Index GHI score despite strong economic growth. After a small increase between 1996 and 2001,Indias GHI score fell only slightly,and the latest GHI returned to about the 1996 level,8221; International Food Policy and Research Institute IFPRI said in the latest report.

This stagnation in GHI scores occurred during a period when India8217;s gross national income GNI per capita almost doubled,rising from about 1,460 to 2,850 constant 2005 international dollars between 199597 and 200810,it said.

When comparing GHI scores with GNI per capita,it must be emphasised that India8217;s latest GHI score is based partly on outdated data,it added.

The report said that given that India has failed to monitor national trends in child under nutrition for more than six years,any recent progress in the fight against child under nutrition cannot be taken into account by the 2012 GHI.

8220;Nonetheless,even bearing in mind that possible recent advances in the fight against child undernutrition are not yet visible in the latest GHI,India8217;s track record is disappointing,8221; it observed and said generally,higher incomes are associated with less hunger.

The 2012 Global Hunger Index,published jointly by IFPRI,Concern Worldwide,and Welthungerhilfe,shows the progress made in reducing the proportion of hungry people in the world.

The report further said that 43.5 per cent of children under five are underweight in India,which accounts for almost two-thirds of the country8217;s 8216;alarmingly high8217; GHI score.

Although India is taking steps to improve food security and nutrition in past years and operates several schemes,8221;poor design,low coverage,and insufficient monitoring are continual challenges. In the absence of up-to-date information on nutrition outcomes,program effectiveness remains uncertain,8221; it said.

Home to the majority of the world8217;s undernourished children,India is in 8216;dire8217; need of monitoring systems for child undernutrition and related indicators that produce data at regular intervals,in order to improve program performance and scale up impact,the report said.

Stating that South Asia is the other region that continues to suffer from the highest levels of hunger,the report said: 8220;Hunger is inextricably linked to growing pressure on land,water,and energy resources.8221;