More than 20 Pct of Indians Malnourished

Bangalore: Over 20 percent of the population, which is about 212 million people, suffer from malnourishment in India. Well-known water expert and Tamil Nadu Planning Commission member P M Natarajan said the figure was taken from the latest estimates of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), reports M R Venkatesh for Deccan Herald.

Natarajan pointed out that 50 percent of the children in rural areas suffer from malnutrition, while 21 percent of the affected children suffer from “severe malnutrition.”

Talking of the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals, Natarajan said “It will not be possible for India to achieve these goals without water and food security,” as reported by Deccan Herald.

Further, it was recently announced by Food Minister KV Thomas that India needs a 200 billion rupee top-up for its proposed food security bill, which is meant to ensure subsidised grain for the poor. The bill will be introduced in the budget session of Parliament on February 21.

Also Read: Soaring Food Prices: The Reason behind Malnutrition