Child Nutrition in Rural India: Some Policy Priorities and Strategies

Vipin Chandran, K.P and Sandhya, P (2010): Child Nutrition in Rural India: Some Policy Priorities and Strategies.

Abstract

The most neglected form of human deprivation is malnutrition particularly among preschool children. Millions of Indian children are equally deprived of the rights to survival, health, nutrition, education and safe drinking water. Interventions for preschool children (Early Childhood Care and Development) in India must be broadly addressed in three dimensions: child health, child development/education and child nutrition. The specific objectives of the study are to examine the current picture of nutritional status of preschool children in rural India; to analyze the policy priorities related to essential components of early child care and development and its interventions; and to suggest the strategies to combat malnutrition among preschool children in India. There are a number of factors affects child nutrition either directly or indirectly. Strategies for preschool children in India require three essential components. They are, system of food entitlements, system of child care and system of health care. Problems of malnutrition among preschool children needs to be addressed through right away. This paper is an attempt in this regard.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Malnutrition, ABC index, Early child care
• Subjects: P - Economic Systems > P3 - Socialist Institutions and Their Transitions > P36 - Consumer Economics ; Health ; Education and Training ; Welfare, Income, Wealth, and Poverty; I - Health, Education, and Welfare > I1 - Health > I12 - Health Behavior; P - Economic Systems > P3 - Socialist Institutions and Their Transitions; I - Health, Education, and Welfare > I1 - Health

References

FOCUS (2006), Focus on Children Under Six: Abridged Report, Citizens Initiative for the Rights of Children Under Six.

Gangadharan. K and Vipin Chandran. K.P (2008), Nutritional deprivation among Indian children: Distributional profile and implications, Journal of the Institute for Research in Social sciences and Humanities, Vol.3 (1), pp.85-97.

Gopalan, C (2003), Changing nutrition scene in South Asia. In IX Asian Congress of Nutrition, Plenary Session 1, Abstract., New Delhi, 23–27 February 2003, p. 1.

Government of India (2007), Sarva Baal Vikas Abhiyan, draft, Ministry of Women and Child Development.

Khera, Reetika (2006), Mid-Day Meals in Primary Schools: Achievements and Challenges, Economic and Political Weekly, 18 November.

Kumar, A.K. Shiva (2007), Why Are Levels of Child Malnutrition Not Improving?, Economic and Political Weekly, 14 April.

Michale Gragnolati.et.al (2005), India’s undernourished Children-A call for an action, Health, Nutrition and Population (HNP) Discussion paper, World Bank.

National Family Health Survey (NFHS-3), 2005-06, National Report, International Institute of Population Sciences, Mumbai.

Planning Commission (2007), Strategies for children under six: A framework for the 11th plan, Planning commission, New Delhi.

Radhakrishna.R and Ravi 2004. Malnutrition in India–Trends and determinants, Economic and Political Weekly,pp 671-675.

Ramprasad V and Kulkarni PM (1985), Determinants of child health status: A study in rural Karnataka, Journal of Tropical Pediatrics, Vol. (5):276-81.

Sinha Dipa (2006), Rethinking ICDS: A Rights Based Perspective, Economic and Political Weekly, 26 August.

Sommerfelt, A. E. and M. K. Stewart. (1994), Children’s Nutritional Status, Demographic and Health Survey Comparative Studies, 12, Calverton, Maryland: Macro International and Demographic and Surveys.

Vipin Chandran. K.P (2009), Malnourished Indian children: The Post-reform scenario, in Dr. K. Gangadharan (ed.), Paradigm shift in Health and Education in India, Serials Publications, New Delhi.

WHO (1995), Physical status: The use and interpretation of Anthropometry, Report of a WHO Expert Committee, WHO Technical report series No. 854, World Health Organization, Geneva.