Hunger and nutrition

In a nation where the thali symbolizes sustenance and culture, CRISIL’s barometer isn’t just data; it’s a pulse on equity.

The Atlas urges a “whole-of-society” approach under the theme “Changing Systems, Healthier Lives.” Recommendations include food system reforms, anti-stigma campaigns, workforce training for compassionate care, and cross-sector partnerships involving agriculture, education, and trade.

Looking ahead, ICAR-CIFRI is advancing IoT-based real-time water quality monitoring (dissolved oxygen, ammonia, turbidity) and drone/ROV technologies for macrophyte mapping, fish behaviour studies and waterbody assessment.

Food security is at stake in a nation self-sufficient in rice production. The unregulated market risks artificial shortages, where hoarding drives spikes despite ample harvests. Without intervention, experts warn of potential vulnerabilities to climate shocks or global disruptions, as the system lacks resilience.

Humanitarian assistance has declined sharply amid global funding shortfalls, leaving millions more exposed.

Nepal faces international obligations under the Sustainable Development Goals to reduce stunting to 15 per cent, wasting to four per cent, and underweight rates to 10 per cent by 2030 – targets that appear increasingly challenging, particularly in remote and underserved regions like Sudurpaschim.

Late at night at the Khamarbari intersection, groups of nearly 40 displaced individuals –including many children – huddle around small fires made from burning scraps of wood and paper. The flickering flames offer fleeting warmth against the biting chill, but the bare pavement beneath them provides no cushion or protection. Children in thin, filthy sweaters shiver as they chat or try to sleep, their bodies pressed together for shared heat.

The holding centres often lack necessities like water and sanitation, and the people held there are lucky if they even receive two meals a day, as food stocks are often too low to supply enough meals. The need for blankets and winter kits is increasing.