BY : NEHA SHAHAB
INDIA'S ECONOMIC GROWTH IN RECENT DECADES HAS CO EXISTED WITH ALARMING LEVELS OF CHRONIC HUNGER. MALNUTRITION IS ONE OF THE LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH AND DISEASES IN CHILDREN UNDER 5 YEARS OF AGE GLOBALLY. THE COUNTRY RANKED 94TH AMONG 107 COUNTRIES IN THE GLOBAL HUNGER INDEX 2020 WAY BEHIND MANY DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.
ACCORDING, TO A STUDY BY LANCET 68% OF THE UNDER 5 DEATH IN INDIA CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO MALNUTRITION. EVERY SECOND IN INDIA IS ALREADY A MALNOURISHED SUGGESTS THE LATEST NATIONAL FAMILY HEALTH .
BUT , THE PANDEMIC HAS THREATENED INDIA' S FOOD SECURITY LANDSCAPE. COVID 19 HAS ALSO SUBSTANTIAL AFFECTED THE NETWORK OF GOVERNMENT RUN HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTRES POPULARLY KNOWN AS INTEGRATED CHILD DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ( ICDS ). THESE CENTRES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING FOOD AND PRIMARY HEALTHCARE , AMONG OTHERS TO CHILDREN BELOW 6 YEARS OF AGE AND MOTHERS ESPECIALLY THOSE FROM LOW- INCOME FAMILIES THROUGH ANGANWADI WORKERS.
A STUDY CONDUCTED BY THE CENTRE FOR SUSTAINABLE EMPLOYEMENT AZIM PREMJI UNIVERSITY THROUGH PHONE INTERVIEWED ACROSS 12 STATES COVERING ABOUT 5,000 HOUSEHOLD FOUND THAT 77% HOUSEHOLD WERE CONSUMING LESS FOOD THAN BEFORE AND 66% LOST EMPLOYMENT.
SOLUTION FOR THIS BIGGEST PROBLEM WE ARE AS FACING BEFORE LOCKDOWN OR AFTER LOCKDOWN WE NEED FOR MORE WORK ON HOW THESE SCHEMES CAN CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS SOME BASOC AND FOOD SECURITY FOR VULNERABLE HOUSEHOLD.