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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | India's Generation Next at risk

India's Generation Next at risk

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published Published on Dec 14, 2009   modified Modified on Dec 14, 2009

For a country looking to reap its demographic dividend when most other economies would be struggling to cope with ageing populations, the health of India’s under-five population should be a huge concern. Almost half (48%) of children under the age of five are stunted, or too short for their age, and 43% are underweight, according to the National Family Health Survey of 2005-06 (NFHS-3). The primary cause, finds the survey, is inadequate intake of food, leading to, in some cases, chronic and acute undernutrition.

The prevalence, predictably, is higher in rural areas than in urban centres, and varies from state to state. Malnutrition, translating into underweight children, is lower in a state such as Kerala, where the ordinary citizen is far more aware of her rights and ensures government-run programmes deliver, than, say, in states such as Bihar and Madhya Pradesh.

More seriously, malnutrition and undernourishment in infancy affect not just the physical development of children but their mental growth as well. The ability of these children to learn, process information and respond creatively would be far below that of children who eat decent food. The deprived children grow up into adults who are far less productive than their peers who did not suffer in malnutrition. Indeed, that is already true of the labour force, as 36% of women and 34% of men in the age 15-49 are too thin, the survey reported.

Political empowerment of the poor alone can ensure that government schemes that target malnutrition work. Malnutrition among infants and pregnant women can be addressed if the effectiveness of central programmes such as Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme is improved. Apart from expanding its coverage, people need to be made more aware of the programme as also the services they can get from the anganwadi centres run under the scheme.

In some states, use of anganwadi services (where present) were an abysmal 12% (Delhi), and in the best case scenario, 66% (Orissa and Chhattisgarh). Overall, only 33% of the children under six received any service from the anganwadi centres. This must change. The nation must invest in its young people, for their sake, and its own.


The Economic Times, 14 December, 2009, http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/opinion/editorial/Indias-Generation-Next-at-risk/articleshow/5334675.cms
 

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