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Resource centre on India's rural distress
 
 

Malnutrition Poses a Real Challenge

-The New Indian Express


There are two well-known sayings about statistics. One is that they are like a bikini, for what they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital. Another quote is: lies, damned lies and statistics. Both of them are perhaps applicable to the latest figures released by the Union ministry of health and family welfare, for they show that life expectancy in India has gone up by five years during the last decade. For instance, infant mortality ratio has come down to 42 in 2012 from 58 per 1,000 live births in the 2005. Maternal mortality ratio has declined from 301 per 100,000 live births in 2001-03 to 212 in 2007-09.

However, the real challenge lies in taking the numbers beyond their present level, for India's position in the world is still at 161 as far as life expectancy is concerned. One possible reason is the prevailing malnutrition which affects 18 per cent of the population. What this means is that a significant section of the people continues to live on the margins as they are unable to fulfil their potentials in any field, whether studying or vocational training or earning a livelihood, because they are underfed and, therefore, physically weak and susceptible to disease. It is not only necessary that they have access to food, but it must be available in sufficient quantities and carry nutritional value.

That statistics do not tell the whole story is also evident from the difference between the figure of 18 per cent being undernourished and the Planning Commission's estimate that 22 per cent is below the poverty line. Moreover, if one of them is correct, then how is it that the government intends to provide 67 per cent of the population with subsidised food under the food security law? Clearly, there is a need to relook at the numbers.