Hambre en India

Hunger in India

A recent report which evaluates how developing countries tackle hunger is sharply critical of India. Despite being one of the world's emerging economies, there are 30 million more hungry people in India than there were in the 1990s.

Reporter:
Sanjoy Majumder

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India may be one of the world's fastest growing economies but the benefit of its growing prosperity is not reaching everyone. According to the ActionAid report, 46% of its children are malnourished and the number of people growing hungry is increasing instead of coming down.

It's not that India doesn't grow enough food - in fact it's a major exporter of farm produce. The problem is that many people, especially poor communities, cannot access it for a variety of reasons, including rising food prices and poor distribution.

Government schemes, such as mandatory school meals, have not been effectively implemented across the country. And large-scale migration of people seeking work or displaced by large development schemes, such as dams or industrial projects, is adding to the problem. Invariably women and children are the most vulnerable.

But there are some positive signs. A landmark rural jobs programme launched four years ago is showing some signs of success in battling poverty. Analysts say it now needs to be persisted with and spread out to more parts of the country.

Sanjoy Majumder, BBC News, Delhi

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the benefit of its growing prosperity is not reaching everyone
el beneficio de su creciente prosperidad no le llega a todo el mundo

malnourished
desnutridos

a major exporter of farm produce
mayor exportador de productos agrícolas

a variety of
por varias razones

poor distribution
mala distribución

displaced by
desplazada por

adding to the problem
(está) empeorando el problema

landmark
muy importante

battling
luchando contra/enfrentando

be persisted with and spread out to more parts of the country
(hay que) seguir (con el proyecto) y abarcar otras partes del país