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Poverty
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- Hunger is a consequence of poverty. Poor living conditions and limited food access lead to malnutrition in children, especially in rural areas with overpopulation.
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Gender inequality
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- Girls suffer more due to the patriarchal mindset, as they are considered secondary and are generally the last to eat in poor families. They are also deprived of mid-day meals due to a lack of access to schools.
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Poor governance
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- Corruption is one of the greatest obstacles to eliminating hunger. This problem is compounded by the lack of awareness among the people.
- Example: Food distribution is inconsistent, with grains being diverted to the open market for profit and poor quality grains sold in ration shops.
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Unidentified hunger
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- Inaccurate classification of households as above or below the poverty line, coupled with poor quality grains, leads to a decline in food consumption.
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Hidden hunger
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- Micronutrient deficiency, caused by poor diet, disease, and inadequate nutrition during pregnancy and lactation, leads to hidden hunger.
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Lack of maternal knowledge
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- Inadequate understanding of nutrition, breastfeeding, and parenting among mothers is another area of concern.
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Resource wastage and climate change
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- The consequences of resource wastage are borne by lower strata of society as they cannot adapt to changing events.
- Further, the expansion of deserts, soil erosion, water scarcity, and extreme weather phenomena as a result of climate change invariably affects poor people more, leading to hunger.
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Natural disasters
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- Weather extremes lead to hunger crises. Droughts and floods destroy harvests and leave the poor vulnerable.
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