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. (Answer in 150 words)

Poverty is not only inadequate income; when health, education and housing costs rise, households may reduce food consumption even if headline poverty declines.

Mechanism of divergence

• Out-of-pocket medical spending, school expenses, transport and energy bills divert limited income from food.
• Irregular informal employment and food-price inflation reduce dietary quality before calorie poverty becomes visible.
• Weak public health, education and nutrition systems shift essential costs to poor households.
• Women and children bear intra-household nutritional deficits, causing anaemia, wasting and stunting.

Response

Strengthen PDS portability and diversity, ICDS, school meals, primary healthcare, sanitation and social pensions. Protect real wages, monitor nutrition outcomes and ensure adequate social-sector spending.

Conclusion

Food security requires income support plus universal public provisioning; reducing social expenditure can convert apparent poverty reduction into hidden hunger.

food security; public provisioning; malnutrition; social expenditure