Despite making fast strides into the field of literacy and economy, India is still coping with the craving issue of hunger and poverty especially when it comes to childcare in the country.
As per the Global Hunger Index 2021 report, India positioned at 101 out of total 116 countries with 27.5 percent malnourished children that squarely brought it into the list of countries tagged under “serious” category.
Starting its journey from 38.8 percent undernourished children in the year 2000, India scales back the score to 37.4 percent in the year 2006, 28.8 percent in the year 2012 and reached at 27.5 percent this year.
Though India has significantly improved its position during the last 20 years, it is still lagging behind neighboring Pakistan who stood at 92nd position with 24.7 percent malnourished children. While Sri Lanka stood on 65th position with just 16 percent underfed children, Bangladesh holds 76th position in the same list with 19.1 percent undernourished children.
According to a report of the Ministry of Women and Child Development Government of India, India is home to 15.87 crore children in the age group of 0-6 years among them Male children are 8.29 crore and female children are 7.58 crore. With nearly 20 percent of the 0.4 years’ child population of the world, India is home to the largest number of children in the world.
“Despite growth in literacy and economy, the understanding of holistic development of children remains less understood, absorbed and assimilated and more importantly under invested. Around 40 percent of children remain undernourished with their growth and development impeded irrevocably, over the lifetime,” said the report.
