Malnutrition in Early Childhood-Some Reflections Singh Darshan1,*, Dhingra Vanita2 1Professor, Department of Social Work, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, Haryana, 136119, India 2Assistant Professor, Department of Social Work, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, Haryana, 136119, India *Email: singhd@kuk.ac.in
Abstract In the recent report of Unicef on the state of the world's children 2012 rank India in under five child mortality at 46th place. The rank of other neighbouring state is higher ie. China, Bhutan, Bangladesh etc. The Unicef report reveals that the annual number of under five death in 2010 is 16.96 lacs. The survey of under five years children revealed that 48 percent children are stunted (Height for weight), 43 percent children are underweight (weight for age) and 20 percent children are wasted (weight for Height). 28 percent infants are having low birth weight. No doubt that India is trying to reduce the infant mortality rate through the administration of different welfare and developmental programmes but the pace of reducing the IMR rate is 3% which is not sufficient. In this direction Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) launched on 2nd October 1975 the world's largest and most unique early childhood development programme but the results are not upto the mark. Malnutrition makes children more prone to illness and stunts physical and intellectual growth for a lifetime, therefore it is the need of the hour to write on this emerging issue. The present paper is a humble attempt to elucidate the present scenerio of the health status of children especially under five years. New strategies are trying to develop through the present paper so that the pace of reducing the IMR rate may be increased. The present paper also suggest policy framers to strengthen the ICDS programme so that the health status of the children may improve. Top Keywords Malnutrition, Early Childhood, Unicef Report. Top |