Poverty and malnutrition
Published On:
Poverty and malnutrition are interconnected in a vicious cycle where lack of access to nutritious food results in undernourishment, reducing productivity, and perpetuating deprivation.
India is ranked 111th out of 125 countries in the 2023 Global Hunger Index, reflecting significant nutritional deficiencies due to economic disparities.
How Poverty and Malnutrition create a Vicious Cycle Adversely affecting Human Capital Formation:
• Economic Barriers to Nutrition: Economic limitations restrict access to nutritious food for vulnerable populations, exacerbating malnutrition.
.• Developmental Impacts of Malnutrition: Malnutrition in early childhood critically impairs both physical and cognitive Development.
• Healthcare Costs of Malnutrition: Malnourished individuals, particularly children, face greater susceptibility to diseases, increasing healthcare costs, draining family resources.
• Educational Limitations Due to Cognitive Delays: Malnutrition-induced cognitive delays during childhood reduce educational attainment, thereby limiting future employment opportunities and perpetuating socio-economic disparities.
• Productivity Loss and Economic Growth: A malnourished workforce contributes less to national productivity, hindering overall economic growth and development.
• Social Exclusion and Mobility: Nutritional inequalities are more pronounced in marginalized groups, leading to both social exclusion and limited economic mobility, perpetuating intergenerational poverty.
Steps to Break the Cycle
• National Nutrition Strategies: Strengthen Poshan Abhiyan which targets the reduction of stunting, undernutrition, and anaemia in children under six by 2% annually, impacting over 100 million people.
•Enhanced Public Distribution System: Strengthening the Public Distribution System (PDS) ensures consistent access to food grains and nutrition for the economically vulnerable, playing a vital role in food security, especially during crises.
• Empowerment through Education and Employment: Women’s education and employment are crucial for improving family nutrition and health outcomes, as educated and employed women play key roles in household decision-making.
Democratic governance and role of civil servants
The Doctrine of Democratic governance relies heavily on the integrity and commitment of civil servants.
Components of Democratic Governance:
• Participation, Representation, Fair Conduct of Elections: Ensuring inclusive participation in decision-making processes promotes legitimacy and reflects the will of the people.
• Responsiveness : Addressing issues in a timely and appropriate manner ensures public services meet societal demands.
• Openness and Transparency : Public decision-making must be transparent and accessible, enabling citizens to scrutinize actions and promoting trust and accountability through informed oversight.
• Rule of Law : Governance must be grounded in clear, fair, and consistently enforced laws , ensuring that all individuals, institutions, and government actors are subject to and accountable under the law .
• Ethical Conduct : Ethical Conduct by leaders and officials upholds the public interest over personal gain, ensuring a moral framework for governance.
• Competence and Capacity : Well-trained, skilled, and knowledgeable personnel capable of making informed decisions and implementing policies allow effectively to meet governance challenges.
• Innovation and Openness to Change : Governments openness to change and innovation ensures that governance remains dynamic and relevant in a changing world.
• Sound Financial Management : Management of public resources with financial prudence, transparency, and accountability , ensuring optimal use of funds, proper budgeting, and avoidance of corruption.
DDG making Public Perception positive about integrity and commitment of civil servants:
• Trust and Governance: Public trust in civil servants is essential for the legitimacy of governance and in turn strengthens the foundation of democratic systems.
The Public Examination Act 2024
The Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, was introduced to uphold the integrity of public examinations amids rising instances of cheating, with recent reports.
Aims and Objectives:
• Preserve Academic Integrity: To safeguard the sanctity of examination processes, deterring practices that compromise the fairness and credibility of exams.
• Standardize Examination Protocols: The Act seeks to establish uniform guidelines and procedures for conducting examinations, ensuring consistency across various educational institutions.
• Legal Framework for Action: It provides a legal basis to penalize the use of unfair means, with punishments ranging from fines to imprisonment, ensuring strong deterrents against malpractice.
• Promote Transparency and Fairness: The Act enforces stringent measures against cheating, ensuring that all candidates are evaluated fairly and on a level playing field.
• Empower Authorities: The Act empowers examination boards and universities to take decisive actions against offenders and enforce preventive measures.
• The Act includes provisions for educational campaigns to raise awareness among students and educators about the legal consequences of cheating.
For example: Schools are mandated to run orientation programs explaining the penalties and risks of unfair practices. The Act does not explicitly prescribe coverage for University or State Education Board Examinations.
