The state of children

The State of the World Children Report, 2016, released by UNICEF, has placed the country among the worst on social indicators of development. The ‘rising global economy’ suffers from serious issues at home, educational status of its children and women is abysmal and their nutrition and health status a major cause of global embarrassment. With major budget cuts in the social sector and chaos on policy matters, this was expected. Yet what embarrasses a proud Indian, dazzled by a blitzkrieg of ‘development’ propaganda, is the fact that India stands lower than its ‘poor’ neighbours like Nepal and Bangladesh in terms of mortality rate of under-five children. 

The status of children in any society is closely linked to the status of its women. The so-called Integrated Child Development Scheme, one of the world’s oldest nutrition programmes launched in 1975, has failed miserably for lack of political will. Several states have diverted ICDS funds to other programmes, according to a 2013 report of the Comptroller and Auditor General. The UN children’s agency has stressed on educating girls. If all mothers could complete secondary education, the shame of 1.2 million children’s death due to preventable causes in 2015 could have been reduced. These preventable causes included lack of hygiene and clean drinking water.  

More than 60 per cent children drop out before completing grade 3, which nullifies a few good indicators achieved by the implementation of the Right to Education and Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan. The appalling state of our schools, absentee teachers, awfully produced textbooks, all contribute to the repulsion children inherit for schooling. UNICEF stresses that children must have a say in policies affecting their future. Will their voice be heard amidst the cacophony of religious and sectoral bias, allowed to influence education policy? Poverty, health and education are interlinked. But economic growth alone does not guarantee improved health and education of children. A huge rift exists between India’s aspirations and reality. Will sensibility prevail to balance the so-called growth with social responsibility?