A Heavy Burden
(Source: Editorial Page, The Indian Express)
| Topic: GS2 – Social Justice, Welfare Schemes, Education and Health |
| Context |
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Background:
India’s demographic dividend is at risk due to compounding crises in learning and malnutrition. ASER 2023 shows that foundational literacy and numeracy have dropped significantly. Meanwhile, the fifth National Family Health Survey and UNICEF data highlight surging anaemia, stunting, and food insecurity among children. Budget cuts in crucial welfare schemes such as ICDS and PM POSHAN have worsened outcomes. The gap between policy ambition and field-level delivery continues to widen.
Learning Crisis Post-COVID:
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Large-scale school closures led to irreversible learning loss in lower primary grades.
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Children in rural areas lacked access to digital tools, leading to further marginalization.
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Catch-up classes and bridge programs have not been scaled effectively nationwide.
Persistent Malnutrition:
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NFHS-5 shows 67% of children under 5 are anaemic; stunting remains at 35%.
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Poor implementation of Anganwadi services and mid-day meals exacerbated these trends.
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Urban-rural and caste-based disparities remain stark in child nutrition outcomes.
Poor Policy Execution:
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States like UP, Bihar, and Jharkhand show severe shortfalls in scheme coverage.
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There is a disconnect between centrally announced reforms (like POSHAN 2.0) and grassroots action.
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Monitoring and evaluation tools remain outdated or underutilized.
Gender and Social Inequities:
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Girl children face a higher risk of dropouts post-pandemic due to household duties and early marriage.
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Tribal and Dalit children are disproportionately affected in terms of both learning and nutrition.
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Access to supplementary nutrition and remedial education remains highly unequal.
Long-Term Socioeconomic Impact:
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Reduced human capital due to early nutritional and learning deficiencies leads to intergenerational poverty.
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Labour productivity, public health burdens, and crime rates are long-term indicators impacted.
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India’s aspirations for becoming a $5 trillion economy may falter without inclusive human development.
Also Read: The Indian Express Editorial 31 May 2025
Way Forward:
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Launch an Integrated National Mission:
A combined central initiative focusing on the convergence of education, nutrition, and health is essential to address the overlapping crises holistically. -
Strengthen Grassroots Implementation:
Empower Panchayati Raj Institutions to monitor Anganwadi services and school nutrition programs through regular Gram Sabha-level audits. -
Ensure Real-time Data Tracking:
Introduce digital dashboards for tracking malnutrition rates, learning recovery progress, and scheme delivery status district-wise. -
Restore Fiscal Commitment:
Increase budgetary allocations to ICDS, PM POSHAN, and remedial learning programs in both Union and State budgets, reversing recent cuts. -
Promote Community and Civil Society Participation:
Involve local NGOs, school management committees, and parents in monitoring and supporting learning and nutrition outcomes. -
Prioritize High-burden States and Groups:
Implement targeted interventions in lagging states like Bihar, Jharkhand, and Madhya Pradesh, with a special focus on SC/ST and girl children.
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Practice Question: India’s demographic dividend is under threat due to a dual crisis of malnutrition and learning loss among children. Critically analyze this issue and suggest integrated, implementable solutions. (GS3, 250 words, 15 marks) |
