’I may be fourteen going on fifteen...may come across as a routine teenager-sloppy, diffident and casual. But I have deep sense of empathy, observation and compassion towards the world that I live in and the people who I share it with.

The data available in bold prints speaks that 795 million people in the world (that makes it 1 in 9 people on the planet Earth) do not have sufficient food to lead an active, healthy and disease free life. These are the people who we term as hungry... not that there is shortage of food, because the world produces 17 % more food per person today than what it did three decades earlier! Then why are our brethren hungry? Well, this means that though the food is available, it is not accessible to those who cannot afford it; hence they are either under-nourished, malnourished or plain stark hungry.

We may bracket them as ‘the children of the lesser God’, but surely the Creator had not destined this lot for them!

The Global Hunger Index shows that 12.9 5 of the population of the world’s hungry people are residing in the developing countries. Countries like Haiti, Zambia, Yemen, Ethiopia, Chad and Sudan are on the brink of starvation. There may be many counties on the world map that we may have not even heard the names of, who may have been fighting with this issue where their citizens sleep hungry.

Regions making Herculian progress towards ending this grave issue are the Latin America and South East Asia by commendably reducing their Hunger rates but ironically the World Hunger Day celebrated on the 28th of May every year, takes a back seat to the Valentine’s Day!!

I am growing up in a family where leaving food on the table is considered a crime because we follow the dictate that-‘before you leave anything on the plate, think of the children of the lesser fate’. Similarly, if each one of us world citizens so decide, that we will consider this problem as ours then we can surely tackle it.

The Goal of ending hunger, achieving food security, improving nutritional standards and promoting sustainable agriculture by the year 2030 may seem rosy hued but it surely is attainable. Half of the battle is won when we know what and who we are fighting with...if we are prepared in advance to fight natural disasters like flood, drought, extreme weather and other climatic atrocities and ensue that progressive farming and agricultural techniques are implemented than surely we can accelerate and enhance productivity and bring down the cost effectively.

“Each one feed one” can be our motto and alongside the government, Non Profit Organizations, and Non Government Organizations can come forward to help fight hunger issues on the grass-root level. In my city, a philanthropic group run by the affluent denizens of the city run a campaign by the name of “Parivartan- Roti Bank” through which nutritious vegetable and bread is served to the poor at bare minimum cost. The money taken is symbolic to this food not being a handout but affordably bought nutritious and healthy food. This solves the purpose of both the ends.

There are similar institutions that are operating on the same orientation and many that are in the pipeline. Thus it is not a farfetched dream, that by 2030 the world citizens- including pregnant women, men and children will not go to bed hungry.

Dynamics of the Agricultural arena, poultry, fisheries and other sources of food need also to microscopically looked into. The advance in the technologies has helped diversify the quality of seeds, plants and species. Use of science in the earlier stereotypical methods has helped make healthy fertilizers. Setting up of Plant and Seed Banks; Livestock Gene Bank, which are accessible to all for use will help sustain and uplift the agricultural practices, soil fertility and yield.

Another hurdle in the path to Zero Hunger is the Red Tapism involved in the Trade rules and regulations. The technicalities behind the export and import of food products are not in accordance to the Doha Development Round 2001 which had its objective to lower trade barriers around the world and thus increase global trade. The policy should be such that the producer has to put in a bare possible investment and his produce is directly available to the consumer at an affordable pricing-thus benefitting both.

The Zero Hunger Challenge was launched by the United Nations Secretary –General Ban Ki Moon in the year 2012, which had five key elements to work upon inclusive of hunger eradication and building sustainable food system. For the implementation and reaching to this target the governments of various countries work hand in glove with the institutions like Bread for all, diet for the small planet Parivartan Roti Bank etc.

On individual level such a system should be formulated, where food should not be wasted. “Waste not, Want not”, the understanding of this old adage is necessary to eliminate the loss of food, its wastage and hence controlling the food shortage. There should be setting up of food banks which should cater to the needy, the excess food in the hotels and restaurants should not be thrown or dumped, rather it should be sent to poor houses, or made available to destitute, orphans and other hunger stricken people of the city.

Zero hunger, therefore is not a concept of the la la land, but it should be a dream worth realization for one and all. A dream that every individual should nurture for one another. Adream that you should dream for me and I for you... yes a universal dream for the universe.

To sum it up, my petition to the leaders of the world is that all Food Systems are Sustainable and all creatures are made equal by the God Almighty, hence equal rights should be meted out to the people for food nourishment health and hygiene. We, the future of this developing nation can give our country the stature of a ‘developed nation’ only when we have the resources and primarily, the energy to do it. No vehicle can make you reach your destination before you add fuel to it. Food is fuel for the human body, therefore, one full stomach is one happily capable individual who contribute to our progress successfully!

-Jyotirmay K.Mehrotra

Share this Story

Photo story- Age 19-25

Single Reportage Photo (17 years)

Videography | International Collaboration

Single Photo Reportage (17 years)

Photostory | Age group 19-25

Single Photo Reportage (16 years)