There is a growing divergence in the relationship between poverty and hunger in India. The shrinking of social expenditure by the government is forcing the poor to spend more on non-food essential items squeezing their food-budget. — Elucidate.
India faces a concerning paradox where, despite progress in reducing income poverty, indicators of hunger and malnutrition remain stubbornly high, revealing a growing divergence between the two. This disjuncture is significantly exacerbated by the shrinking of social expenditure by the government.
When state support for essential services like public healthcare, education, housing, and transportation diminishes, the poor are compelled to bear these costs themselves. These become "non-food essential items" that absorb a larger share of their meagre incomes. For instance, out-of-pocket health expenditures can be catastrophic.
Consequently, to meet these unavoidable non-food expenses, poor households are forced to squeeze their food budgets. This often means compromising on the quantity, quality, and diversity of food consumed, leading to nutrient deficiencies and hidden hunger, even if their income crosses a basic poverty line. This reallocation of resources due to inadequate social safety nets directly undermines food security and perpetuates malnutrition, illustrating that economic growth alone isn't sufficient without robust public investment in social welfare.
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