Hunger Crisis in India: Causes and Solutions 

India is a food surplus country, however India's 111st rank out of 125 countries in Global Hunger Index 2023 highlights that the food resources of this country are not effectively managed and distributed to ensure food security in the country. 

Causes for Hunger Crisis in India 

1. Errors in Government Policies: Inefficient supply chains, lack of proper storage, and inadequate transportation contribute to food wastage at various stages of the supply chain. While food is wasted, many people still struggle with hunger. Other errors like inefficient targeting, crop monoculture, corruption and limited focus on nutrition can also contribute to hunger crisis.

2. Unequal Distribution of Resources: Disparities in wealth and resources result in unequal access to food. Wealthier regions or communities have better access to food, while marginalized groups may struggle to meet their basic nutritional needs. Overcrowding of cities due to migration and unfavorable geographical conditions also creates barriers for some to have access to food.

3. Poverty and Inflation: A significant portion of the population lives below the poverty line which mean that a significant portion of the population lacks the financial means to afford an adequate and nutritious diet. Poverty along with food inflation may create a situation where poor households have to compromise on the quality and quantity of food, leading to malnutrition and hunger.

4. Hidden Hunger: Due to lack of diversification of food, diets being heavily dependent on a few staple foods, low soil nutrients leading to leading to growth of crops with lower nutrient content, contaminated water sources and limited awareness about the importance of diverse diets and the role of micronutrients in preventing diseases, there is prevalence of hidden hunger in India.

5. Social Discrimination: Discrimination based on caste, gender, or ethnicity can limit certain groups' access to education, healthcare, and employment opportunities, perpetuating cycles of poverty and food insecurity.

Ways to address this issue:

1. Promote Nutrition Security: Increasing awareness about balanced nutrition through educational campaigns to inform communities about the importance of a diverse diet, to meet both energy and micronutrient needs, will lead to better dietary choices by the masses

2. Research and Development: Investing in research and development by supporting scientific advancements in agriculture, such as developing genetically modified crops, improving seed varieties and promoting food fortification will address hidden hunger and improve the overall nutritional quality of people's diet.

3. Improvement in Government Policies: Shortcomings of government policies should be addressed through measures such as price stabilization, fair trade practices, and regulations that support farmers and ensure a stable food supply so that food resources can be distributed equitably.

4. Agricultural Reforms: To enhance food production, reduce dependency on a few staple crops and mitigate climate change impacts, sustainable agricultural practices like agroforestry, precision agriculture, use of drought-resistant varieties, efficient water management practices should be adopted as these methods promote long-term soil health, reduce reliance on chemical inputs, and enhance overall productivity.

5. Infrastructure Development: Improving agricultural infrastructure by investing in better storage facilities, cold chains, and transportation networks, can help minimize losses after harvest and ensures that food reaches markets and consumers efficiently.

6. Poverty Alleviation and Welfare Schemes: Strengthening social safety nets by expanding programs like subsidized food distribution, conditional cash transfers, and employment guarantee schemes to provide immediate assistance to those facing food insecurity will provide direct assistance to vulnerable populations, ensuring they have access to sufficient food. 

A healthy population contributes in the society's and country's development. More focus should be given to ensure food and nutrition security in the country, so that India can fulfill the Sustainable Development Goal-2 of Zero Hunger and reap the benefits of having a healthy population.