India’s 21.9% population is considered to be living in the stage of poverty. India ranks 105th out of 127 countries in the Global Worldwide and Welt hunger life. Poverty is the absence of basic necessities of life. Malnutrition is the absence of sufficient nutrients from food intake.
Both are interlinked since Malnutrition produces poverty and poverty reinforces malnutrition. Both form a cycle; Poverty arises from limited resources which causes no education. No education depicts no employment which further drives the incapacity to buy good quality food giving rise to malnutrition. This yields low productivity and low-wages causing poverty.
Impact of poverty and malnutrition on human capital formation
- Education: Poverty leads to illiteracy which impedes human capital formation.
- Skills Development: It leads to poor skill development which causes unemployment.
- Health: Due to malnutrition health deteriorates with low productivity and forms inefficient human capital.
Steps taken to break cycle
- Ensuring food security through subsidised nutritional programmes, Community Kitchen and meals.
- Supporting farmers and sustainable practices improve agricultural productivity to a large scale e.g. PM KISAN, Soil Health Card.
- Skill Development is done through Training Rural Youth and Vocational Training.
- Accessing quality health care facilities e.g. Ayushman Bharat Yojna (PM-JAY)
- Government Interference is required for social protection measures, and community involvement such as Self-Help Groups.
A feedback mechanism has to be established where consistent suggestions are implemented.
In order to break this vicious loop multifaceted approach is the need of the hour. Immediate interventions have to be combined with long term strategies will be conducive to formation of VIKSIT BHARAT at 47. Together, we can turn this cycle of despair into a cycle of hope, building a healthier, empowered India for generations to come.
From Hunger to Hope: Shattering the Poverty-Malnutrition Cycle