A recent study revealed that around half of the children in the slums of the national capital are underweight, 43 per cent were found to be wasted while 45 per cent children suffer from stunting.
The survey, conducted by NGO Child Rights and You (CRY), found only 47 per cent of total 507 children in the age group of 1-6 year from Delhi slums are enrolled in anganwadis, 50 per cent did not receive iron, folic acid (IFA) and vitamin A doses while 60 per cent of parents claimed that they were not informed by the anganwadis that their child is malnourished.
The study also revealed that the immunisation coverage, which is most critical for a child’s survival in the first six years of his or her life, was found to be low, with less than one third of the children (about 31 per cent), under the age of three years, having received at least one dose of recommended vaccination. “A gender imbalance is seen here with only 25 per cent of the girls receiving at least one dose, as compared to 39 per cent of the boys,” it said.
Apart from the national capital, this household survey on early childhood was also conducted in slums across four major metropolitans in India — Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru and Kolkata.
“Even as anganwadi centres (AWCs) remain one of the most important institutions for ensuring nutrition, health and early education of children below six years, only 46 per cent children dwelling in slums are enrolled in them,” the survey added.
Despite the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme, which provides for health services, including de-worming, IFA (iron and folic acid tablets) and Vitamin A dosage, more than a third of children in the five cities surveyed had not been de-wormed.
“CRY strongly recommends that health, nutrition and care to children should be provided as entitlements. Nutrition security of these children should be addressed with urgency. Alternate care arrangements, like creches for all children, are a non-negotiable in light of informal economy in urban slums where both parents are compelled to work for sustenance,” said CRY’s North region director Soha Moitra.
