UPSC Preparation: Malnutrition in India

The topic of malnutrition in India is important for Civil Services Examination preparation for General Studies Paper 2 under the theme of poverty and hunger. It is essential to reflect on significant topics related to hunger and poverty such as Food security in India, the Socio Economic Caste Census 2011 and its role in determining the poverty levels of India and other similar topics which need to be analysed critically. This practice will help a candidate to establish a strong grasp over his/her Mains Preparation and answer writing skills. 

The term malnutrition refers to both under nutrition and over nutrition but in the context of studying the issue of malnutrition in India, one has to consider the deficiency of nutrition. India is one of the highest ranking countries in terms of malnutrition. India has double the number of underweight children in Sub Saharan Africa. Though India is progressing in terms of its economic growth, the problem of malnutrition seems to be growing in intensity which poses as a contradictory scenario for the country to advance in all spheres of life. It is necessary to note that human security constitutes food security. 

Malnutrition depends upon a variety of factors and to ascertain the key drivers of malnutrition is of foremost importance. The major determinants of malnutrition according to latest findings constitute the absence of sanitation and the low social status of women. Lack of sanitation leads to the spread of diseases and the low social status attributed to women contributes to lower birth weights. And unhygienic environment and improper maternal health increases the vulnerability of child malnutrition. The Rapid Survey on Children (RSOC) conducted by the Department of Women and Child Development in 2013-14 in association with UNICEF came up with the following findings:

1. The proportion of underweight children in India was 29.4%
2. The proportion of stunted children was 38.7%

Though the above findings show high levels of under nutrition and stunting in India, there has been considerable improvement compared to the National Family Health Survey of 2005-06.  Malnutrition rates vary across various income groups and states in India. The states of Madhya Pradesh and Bihar with the highest rates of underweight children saw the sharpest fall in under nutrition rates over the past decade. Most of the North Eastern states have achieved reduction in the rates of stunting. 

Though poverty alone does not form the reason for malnutrition, it plays a significant role in contributing to malnutrition as poor families do not have the resources and the time to care for their children. Therefore, the proportion of malnourished children in the lowest wealth quintile is higher than the proportion of malnourished children in the highest wealth quintile. The relationship between wealth and nutrition is evident at the household level, however it differs when it comes to the states within India and other nation-states. India’s malnutrition rates are way higher than poorer countries in Africa. This points out to the fact that the relationship between economic growth and nutrition alone does not form the base for food security at all levels. 

As far as India’s economic boom is concerned,  it is important to understand that growth has been witnessed only in the service and technology sectors and not in the agricultural and manufacturing sectors where the majority of the population (and especially rural India) is economically engaged. Therefore, the real challenge lies in addressing issues which are not limited to economic growth alone such as gender equity, inadequate purchasing power, lack of public health system and last but not the least, high and rising levels of inequity which would focus on nutrition sensitive growth in a profound manner. 

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