India’s Undernutrition and Human Capital by Rao, Veena S;

Short description:

This book explores the undernutrition situation in India and its repercussions on the country’s human capital, from a public policy practitioner’s approach.

Long description:

This book explores the undernutrition situation in India and its repercussions on the country’s human capital, from a public policy practitioner’s approach. It critically examines government policy since Independence to present times and foregrounds the issues that have led to the persistence of poor nutritional and health status among a large section of India’s population. The volume traces the complex history of public nutrition and public policy in India, and presents a sound multi-sectoral, intergenerational strategy which addresses the root causes and has been successfully piloted, and can be scaled up across chronic undernutrition pockets of India.

A ground-up approach to policymaking and implementation, the book will be of great interest to scholars and researchers of public nutrition/ health, public administration and development studies. It will be of great professional use to policymakers, programmers and NGOs working in the public nutrition/health sector.

“Veena Rao’s book on India’s Undernutrition, Dietary Deficit and Human Capital marshals impressive evidence to describe the state of undernutrition in India. The book shines when it discusses the efficacy of the multipronged approach involving families, community workers, private sector and government sector for nutritional monitoring, food fortification and increasing access to food for the poor and the vulnerable. A go-to book for anyone seeking to understand and address India’s undernutrition."

Dr Sonalde Desai,
Professor and Centre Director
National Data Innovation Centre (NCAER NDIC)
National Council of Applied Economic Research
New Delhi

Distinguished University Professor, University of Maryland College Park
former President, Population Association of America

“Implementing multi-sectoral interventions to address India’s complex inter-generational undernutrition is indeed a very difficult task, as it requires simultaneous interventions covering health and nutrition services, water and sanitation, care providers, and reduction in income poverty. It becomes doubly difficult in India because multiple ministries are involved- health, women and child development, water, sanitation, agriculture, food processing. Veena Rao demonstrates through her practical work and research in “India’s Undernutrition and Human Capital: Addressing the Roots” that implementing multiple sectoral interventions is possible and they have quick, positive impact. Government policy makers must take note.”

Dr Santosh Mehrotra, Phd (Econ) Cambridge

Visiting Professor, Centre for Development Studies, University of Bath, UK.
Visiting Senior Fellow, Centre for Economic & Social Studies, Hyderabad

Table of Contents:

Introduction

Chapter 1

The State of our Human Capital: Assessing the Indicators

Chapter 2

India’s Undernutrition and Dietary Deficit has deep roots

Chapter 3

Causes and Consequences of Undernutrition and Dietary Deficit

Chapter 4

The Economic Cost of Undernutrition and Dietary Deficit

Chapter 5

Independent India’s Response

Chapter 6

Poshan Abhiyaan

Chapter 7

A Strategy that Worked: Karnataka Comprehensive Nutrition Mission

Chapter 8

How do we improve India’s nutritional and health status within a generation?

Summing Up - A Roadmap for the Future