India struggles with significant poverty and hunger affecting millions. Despite economic growth, 218 million Indians face food insecurity and 30% of children suffer from malnutrition. Government initiatives and social programs aim to alleviate these issues.

Poverty related issues – 

1. Uneven distribution of wealth, exacerbating poverty as the rich accumulate while the poor struggle.
2.  Insufficient quality education, hindering skill development, employability and socioeconomic mobility opportunities.
3. Lack of stable, gainful employment, perpetuating poverty and limiting economic mobility opportunities.
4. Insufficient access to quality medical services, exacerbating poverty through untreated illnesses and debts.
5. Social exclusion and bias against marginalized groups, limiting education, employment and economic opportunities.

Hunger related issues – 

1. Limited access to nutritious food, causing hunger, malnutrition and vulnerability to illnesses nationwide.
2. Deficiencies in essential nutrients, causing stunted growth, weakened immunity and increased mortality rates nationwide.
3. Insufficient clean water access, exacerbating hunger, malnutrition and health issues, particularly in rural areas.
4. Crop failures, poor productivity and limited resources hinder food production, exacerbating hunger and poverty.
5. One third of produced food discarded, exacerbating hunger, resource depletion and environmental degradation unnecessarily.

India’s initiatives include the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, Public Distribution System, Mid Day Meal Scheme, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, and Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana to combat poverty and hunger.

MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) guarantees rural adults 100 days of unskilled manual work/year, ensuring:

• Minimum wage payment
• Employment within 5 km of residence
• Unemployment allowance if work isn’t provided
• Equal wages for men and women
• Social security and livelihood protection

Benefits – 

1. Social benefits include poverty alleviation, empowerment, social equity, women’s empowerment and reduced migration, enhancing rural livelihoods and dignity.
2. Economic benefits include increased rural incomes, improved purchasing power, boosted local economies and enhanced rural infrastructure development and productivity.
3. Promotes environmental sustainability through water conservation, afforestation, soil conservation and drought resilience, enhancing ecological balance and rural livelihoods.

MGNREGA faces challenges i.e. inadequate funding, delayed payments, corruption, inefficient implementation, insufficient skill development and limited job opportunities. Additionally, issues like lack of awareness, cumbersome registration processes and inadequate monitoring hinder effective implementation.