Topic: Issues relating to poverty and hunger.
3. Undernourished children are highly susceptible to serious infections because of poor immunity which have serious short-term as well as long-term consequences. This requires a coherent policy response which steers agriculture and food systems towards production and supply of healthier foods at affordable prices as well as regulation of unhealthy foods. Elaborate. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Indian Express
Why the question:
A mix of dismay and debate has been the reaction to the persistently high rates of childhood undernutrition reported by the last National Family Health Survey. Dismay because the reported prevalence of 35.5% stunting, 32.1% underweight and 19.3% wasting in children under five years of age does not bode well for their present and future health or cognitive development.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about causes for Malnutrition and measures needed to overcome it.
Directive word:
Elaborate – Give a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the context. You must be defining key terms wherever appropriate and substantiate with relevant associated facts.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by giving statistic related to status of malnutrition in India.
Body:
First, write about the various causes of malnutrition – poverty, maternal health illiteracy, diseases like diarrhoea, home environment, dietary practices, hand washing and other hygiene practices, etc. Briefly mention its impact.
Next, write about the measures needed to overcome the above – making healthy foods affordable and regulation of unhealthy foods.
Conclusion:
Conclude with a way forward.
