Poverty and malnutrition create a vicious cycle, adversely affecting human capital formation. What steps…

Question

Poverty and malnutrition create a vicious cycle, adversely affecting human capital formation. What steps can be taken to break the cycle ?

Ghissu Editorial · Accepted Answer

Poverty and malnutrition can be broken together by protecting the first 1,000 days, diversifying diets, cutting infections and securing household income and women's agency. NFHS-5 (2019-21) found 35.5% of children under five stunted, and India's Human Capital Index stood at 0.49 in 2020.

**Introduction**

NFHS-5 (2019-21) found 35.5% of children under five stunted, and India's Human Capital Index was 0.49 (World Bank, 2020). Poverty breeds poor diets, malnutrition lowers learning and earnings, and the cycle repeats across generations.

**Nutrition and Health Steps to Break the Cycle**

SKETCH: flow-cycle | Poverty-Malnutrition Trap
- Low household income
- Poor maternal diet
- Stunted child
- Weak learning
- Low-wage work

1. **First 1,000 days**: Strengthen POSHAN 2.0 and PM Matru Vandana Yojana, and scale Tamil Nadu's Dr Muthulakshmi Reddy maternity scheme, since stunting sets in during pregnancy and infancy.
2. **Dietary diversity**: Only 11% of children aged 6-23 months get a minimum adequate diet (NFHS-5), so add millets, eggs and pulses to PDS and PM POSHAN, building on fortified rice and the Odisha Millet Mission.
3. **Water and disease**: Jal Jeevan Mission, Swachh Bharat and deworming under Anaemia Mukt Bharat cut nutrient loss from infections, while the Poshan Tracker flags wasted children early.

**Income and Empowerment Steps to Break the Cycle**

1. **Assured work and food**: MGNREGA wages and free NFSA rations steady food budgets in lean seasons.
2. **Women's agency**: SHGs under DAY-NRLM and Kudumbashree raise women's control over income, which is more often spent on children.
3. **Care and conditions**: PALNA creches let mothers work without breaking feeding routines, and Brazil's Bolsa Familia shows how cash tied to health check-ups improves outcomes.

**Conclusion**

Nutrition, health and income support must reach the same household together, or gains in one are lost to another. Investing in the first 1,000 days is the surest route to SDG 2 and a productive workforce for Viksit Bharat 2047.

Poverty and malnutrition create a vicious cycle, adversely affecting human capital formation. What steps can be taken to break the cycle ?

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