7. Malnutrition in India is not merely a public health concern; it is also a challenge of social equity, human development and effective welfare governance. Discuss. (Answer in 150 words)
Introduction
Malnutrition in India is not only a problem of inadequate food but also of inequality, poor healthcare, sanitation and weak access to welfare services. NFHS-5 reported 35.5% stunting, 19.3% wasting and high levels of anaemia among women, highlighting its multidimensional nature.
Social Equity
- Social and economic inequality: Poor households, particularly vulnerable SC/ST and tribal communities, often face limited access to nutritious food, clean water and healthcare.
- Gender dimension: Unequal food distribution, early marriage and repeated pregnancies can worsen maternal and child undernutrition.
- Regional disparities: Tribal, rural and poorer regions often face greater nutritional deprivation due to limited health and sanitation infrastructure.
Human Development
- Loss of human potential: Malnutrition during childhood affects physical growth, learning ability and future productivity.
- Intergenerational poverty: Undernourished mothers are more likely to have low-birth-weight children, creating a cycle of poor health and poverty.
Welfare Governance
- Last-mile gaps: Shortages of frontline workers, weak Anganwadi infrastructure and poor awareness can reduce the effectiveness of nutrition programmes.
- Need for convergence: Nutrition requires coordination among health, food, sanitation, drinking water and women’s empowerment programmes.
Conclusion
Therefore, programmes such as Mission Poshan 2.0, PM POSHAN and food fortification must be combined with better sanitation, dietary diversity and community participation. Addressing malnutrition through an equity-based, life-cycle approach is essential for achieving Article 47 and SDG 2 objectives.
Ravi Raaz
Hassan Khan
Shadab Ali