The Republic of Hunger Utsa Patnaik

India has seen a steep and unprecedented fall in per capita foodgrains absorption in the course of the last five years (1998 to 2003). This has lead to a sharp increase in the numbers of people in hunger, particularly in rural areas. Meanwhile, a worsening situation is being interpreted as betterment because, as this paper argues, the diagnosis of the problem of hunger itself is incorrect. Thus, no remedial measures can be expected of the policy advisers and the rulers of this country which was once a developing economy, but which has been turned into the Republic of Hunger.

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