TACKLING MALNUTRITION

Malnutrition, especially in children is an issue that our country has been confronting over the
decades. Even when India is in the 73rd year of its Independence, it cannot be claimed that its
efforts to ameliorate the hunger crisis facing its children have yielded much success.
According to UNICEF-State of World’s Children Report 2019, about 69% of child deaths in
India occurred due to Malnutrition. The Global Hunger Index, 2019 ranked India at the 102nd
position out of 117 countries, much below its south-Asian counterparts like Bangladesh,
Pakistan, and Nepal. The alarming rates inevitably point to the immediate attention, the issue
merits.

Malnutrition directly impinges on the “Right to Food”, widely regarded as a basic human
right conferred on every individual by birth. It encapsulates both Rights to access to sufficient
quantity and quality of food. The WHO defines Malnutrition as the deficiencies, excesses,
and imbalances in a person's intake of energy/ nutrients. Thus, it may be caused due to under-
nutrition or excess nutrition, of which the former is more prevalent in our country. A host of
factors may contribute to this condition in growing children. Along with poverty, other
factors like illiteracy of parents, large family size, inequitable distribution of resources within
the family, continued child-births in the family also significantly impact Malnutrition levels.
Inadequate nutrition levels affect the healthy growth of a child and also increases their
vulnerability to major diseases. It affects their ability to learn, communicate, and get along
with the world around them. When not properly redressed, these conditions may even reach a
point where it might threaten the child’s life. Towards the development of a healthy
population, the malnutrition crisis facing our children has to be effectively curbed.

A NITI Aayog Report published in 2019 revealed a significant downturn in India’s

performance at ensuring zero hunger by about 13%. Eradication of Malnutrition requires
concerted efforts from all stakeholders supplemented with informed policy initiatives
grounded on proper consensus and viable approaches. Adept mechanisms to ensure
appropriate dissemination of funds allocated towards mitigating this crisis must also keep
pace with these developments. Grassroots level initiatives should also be encouraged
including increased distribution through PDS, ensuring efficient functioning of Anganwadis,
etc.. Anganwadis play an important role in increasing access to nutritious food at local levels.
However, none of these efforts will have much impact unless it is ensured that a significant
amount of the population has access to the benefits envisaged through these initiatives. In this
regard, NGOs, and social welfare organizations have an important role to play. Thus, a
culmination of efforts across all fronts can only prevent the crisis from burgeoning into an
issue of public health emergency going by its present levels.