Only 24% of Indians Able to Afford Healthy Diet, Report Says

A Result of the Rising Food Costs

Newsreel Asia Insight #72
Dec. 14, 2023

In India, as public discourse predominantly revolves around identity and ideology, crucial issues of significant importance often remain quietly simmering, receiving scant visibility. For instance, a recent UN report reveals that only one quarter of the country’s population can afford a healthy diet, and over 50% of women suffer from anaemia.

A staggering 74.1% of Indians struggle to afford a nutritious diet, says the report, “Asia and the Pacific - Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition 2023,” released by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations in Bangkok on Dec. 11.

A healthy diet comprises foods that are rich in essential nutrients compared to their calorie content. This includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and low-fat dairy. However, in 2019, the Mint newspaper reported that, on average, Indians consumed more carbohydrates, sugar and processed food than recommended, while their intake of both animal and plant-based proteins, as well as fruits and vegetables, fell below the recommended levels.

The issue perhaps extends beyond cultural habits, with the cost of food playing a major role.

In 2021, according to the FAO, the cost of a healthy diet per individual in Asia stood at roughly 90 rupees (This figure is derived from converting the average cost of a healthy diet, which was 3.90 Purchasing Power Parity, or PPP, Dollars in Asia at the time, using India’s PPP conversion factor of 22.9, as per the World Bank.). Consequently, for a family with an average household size of 4 individuals, the daily expenditure on a nutritious diet would amount to around 360 rupees.

This translates to roughly 10,800 rupees per month, just for food and as of 2021.

The affordability is determined by comparing the cost of a healthy diet with the income levels within the country. Should the cost surpass 52% of an average household’s income, the diet is considered unaffordable, according to the World Bank. This means only Indian households with a net income of about 22,000 rupees are able to afford a healthy diet.

Malnutrition undermines productivity, hampers cognitive development and perpetuates the cycle of poverty, disproportionately burdening women and children who are the most vulnerable to its effects, according to studies. Not surprisingly, the FAO report shows that anaemia, a condition marked by a deficiency of red blood cells, affects 53% of Indian women aged 15 to 49.

Behind this crisis is the cost of a healthy diet, which is rising faster in Asia and the Pacific than the global average. In 2021, the average cost of such a diet in the region increased by 5.3%, outpacing the global rise of 4.3%, as per the report.

To illustrate the escalating food prices in India, consider Mumbai, where the cost of preparing meals at home soared by 65% over a span of five years. In contrast, during the same period, wages saw a modest increase of only 28% to 37%, according to a September 2023 report by The Hindu.

Rising food costs, coupled with stagnant or falling incomes, create a scenario where more people find it increasingly difficult to eat healthily.

The COVID-19 pandemic further aggravated this situation. The outbreak led to a lack of decent work opportunities and heightened uncertainty in food systems and markets, worsening inequality and disproportionately affecting poorer families. While some regions like Eastern Asia showed signs of recovery in 2021, Southern Asia, including India, continues to struggle.

The situation in India reflects a broader trend across Southern Asia, where the number of people unable to afford a healthy diet is the highest. The situation is particularly dire in Pakistan, where over 80% of the population faces this challenge.

Jong-Jin Kim, Assistant Director-General and FAO Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific, aptly notes that the report serves as “food for thought,” calling for integrated actions and investments towards transforming agrifood systems.

It is time for India to unite, not along communal, caste or ideological lines, but in addressing this nutritional crisis, which surpasses political and ideological divisions, striking at the very heart of human dignity and survival.