On Tuesday, Sitaram Yechury, General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)), voiced strong criticism against the Central government in response to a study that shed light on the prevalence of “zero-food children” in India. The study, based on snapshot surveys, compared India’s situation to that of some African nations, revealing alarming statistics.

In a post on X, Yechury accused the government of engaging in what he referred to as “propaganda of poverty reduction” and underscored the distressing reality faced by Indian children. He stated, “Such is the pathetic heart-rending reality of our children! This nails the lie of Modi propaganda of poverty reduction and economic prosperity.”

Expressing his deep concern, Yechury highlighted the global ranking of India, noting its marginal position just above Guinea and Mali. He emphasized that this ranking was a matter of shame, especially considering that Pakistan and Bangladesh performed comparatively better.

According to the study, which drew on data from the Union Health Ministry’s National Family Health Survey for 2019-2021, the prevalence of “zero-food children” in India is estimated at 19.3%, ranking it as the third-highest globally after Guinea (21.8%) and Mali (20.5%). In contrast, Pakistan recorded a prevalence of 9.2%, and Bangladesh had 5.6%.

The study’s findings underscore the urgent need for comprehensive and effective measures to address the concerning issue of child hunger in India, prompting a renewed call for attention and action.

Source: PTI

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