Child Malnutrition in Karnataka- A Report
In light of the Planning Commission’s cruel joke of pegging the poverty level at an expenditure level of Thirty Rupees day, I wanted to bring our attention to a recent report compiled by Clifton D’Rozario in his capacity as an advisor to the Commisioners on the right to food. The report may be downloaded from here
Extracts
Over the past few weeks the issue of child malnutrition in Karnataka, specifically Raichur, has come to the fore. It would not be inaccurate to suggest that the field reports carried out by the TV channel, TV9, has highlighted the issue at the State level. Between 8th and 9th October 2011, we visited few villages in Raichur district and one slum in Raichur city in regard to the malnutrition prevailing in the district. The impetus of the visit came from the renewed and intense media coverage around starvation deaths in Raichur following a TV expose, which likened malnutrition deaths in Raichur District to the conditions in Sub-Saharan Africa. TV-9 showed clippings of one particular child Anjeneya, over and over again. What was deeply tragic about the news clipping was the shame of seeing children in Karnataka with distended bellies and bony hands and feet, literally being carried around as they lacked the strength to walk. What added a sense of heartbreaking loss was that, the child was 5 years old and had been officially recognized as being severely malnourished as early as 2010. However the apathy of the state system was such that the child quietly slipped through the cracks and finally died ironically one day after TV9 made his image an iconic representation of the fate of malnourished children in Raichur district.
Malnutrition is the underlying cause of at least 50 per cent of deaths of children under five. Even if it does not lead to death, malnutrition, including micronutrient deficiencies, often leads to permanent damage, including impairment of physical growth and mental development. For example, iron, folic acid and iodine deficiencies can lead to brain damage, neural tube defects in the newborn and mental retardation.
The findings of the third National Family Health Survey (NFHS-3) reveals an unacceptable prevalence of malnutrition in our children:
- 42.5% of our children under the age of five years are underweight (low weight for age)
- 48 % of our children are stunted (low height for age – chronically malnourished)
- 19.8 % of our children are wasted (low weight for height – acutely malnourished)
- In poorer states the situation is even worse with over 50 % of children underweight
The state of Malnutrition among children in Raichur district:
As pointed above the Advisor has repeatedly drawn the attention of the authorities and the State Government to the grave situation in Raichur district. Vide letters dated 12th November 2010 and 29th July 2011 the issue of malnutrition in Raichur district was brought to the attention of the Chief Secretary.
Between 8th and 9th October 2011, the Advisor visited few villages in Raichur district and one slum in Raichur city in regard to the malnutrition prevailing in the district. A copy of the report is placed as Annexure – 3.
Alarmingly since April 2009 to August 2011, 2689 malnourished children have died in the district of Raichur alone, and 4531 children are suffering from severe malnutrition. It is pertinent to note that all officials including the Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Sadananda Gowda have admitted the same. A copy of the information received from the Department of Women and Child Department is placed as Annexure – 4. As per the official statistics:
Details of deaths of malnourished children:
|
Period |
Deaths |
Births |
|
April – December 2009 |
811 |
20554 |
|
January – December 2010 |
1233 |
30014 |
|
January – August 2011 |
645 |
13049 |
|
Total for a period of 28 months |
2689 |
63617 |
In our visit we came across incidents of deaths of children due to malnutrition, most notably in Malledervaragudda village where a brother and sister died within 1 ½ month of each other. The girl, Mahalaxmi was aged 2.2 years but weighed only 3.5 kgs while her elder brother Anjeneya was aged 5 years and weighed a mere 5 kgs.
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Download link not working.
Hi Rajesh
I just checked the link, seems to be working. You may have to change the extension to a .pdf if it downloads as a html file
It would be really helpful if I can contact Lawrence Liang on the issue. I am part of the TV9 group and want to talk to him on certain issues. Do mail me his contact number to adadithya@gmail.com
Thank you.
Hi Adithya
I have forwarded your email to my colleague Clifton who is working on this. His email is clifton@altlawforum.org
good thought provoking bala
The Infant Mortality Rate was 50 per thousand live births in 2009. So, of the 26 million births which take place in India, 1.3 million infants will die before age one. Another 0.5 million will die before age five. Many of their mothers (about 70,000) will also die primarily due to post-partum bleeding caused by anemia. This vicious cycle of anemic mothers bearing underweight children can only be tackled if young girls are given adequate doses of iron and other micro-nutrients besides adequate protein and carbohydrate intake. 80% of Indian women across the rural urban divide are anemic. Gutka and chewing tobacco is being marketed in one rupee sachets and reaching every nook and corner of the country. Why have some of our larger food companies like Brittania, Nestle, Hindustan Lever, Pepsico not produced a low cost nutrition bar with the required daily dosage of micro-nutrients? Bangladesh In collaboration with Danone of France is distributing a fortified yogurt and the results are already visible. Infant and maternal mortality rates in Bangladesh have reduced considerably and are well below Indian rates. As far as maternal mortality is concerned, a major clinical trial is already in progress in Nigeria to use the drug Tranexamic Acid to arrest post-partum bleeding. The drug is already being manufactured in India and being used for heavy menstrual bleeding. The efficacy of the drug which can be administered orally has been established. Thousands of lives could be saved every year since even ANMs and ASHAs can administer it in remote villages where hospitalisation facilities are unavailable. I contacted the FOGSI (the federation of obstetrics and gynecologists) who responded that the ‘procedure’ would have to be followed. Thousands of lives have already been saved in Nigeria so it seems inexplicable that the drug should not be prescribed routinely to arrest post-partum bleeding. Maybe some doctors reading this could take it forward?
why Raichur, just 26 KM from Banagalore here in Hakki Pikki Colony you will find that among the children assessed for weight and Mid Upper Arm showed more than 70% are severely malnourished. two children aged 1.5 yrs and 2.6 yrs weighing just 5.5 k.g. whats happening to our society?? ASHA ANM and AWW are all there you bring more people the corrupt system will either disempower them or make them corrupt too. Root out corruption and people will get what they deserve. ASHA’s were mere cosmetics. Bring Nurse practitioners in the community at PHC where they do visit regularly the villages like In ICTC- Nurse practitioners in Andhra making them accountable you will see the difference.
apart from government, each person has to do something for this people. Me and my Friends has started collecting donation from various sources. Hope we could do something on this,,,,,,,,,,