India's National Shame

A recent article in New York Times by Somini Sengupta highlights the pitiable state of India’s worst problem, malnutrition. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has labeled this as “India’s national shame”. How very true. In a country where ‘racial inequality’, ‘justice for the backward class’ has been the main focus of the sickening and mind cringing political wars, malnutrition has seemed to slip seamlessly under the radar. The article can be read here - http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/13/world/asia/13malnutrition.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=india%20malnutrition&st=cse or http://www.iht.com/articles/2009/03/13/asia/13malnutrition.php.
A thorough read of the article brings to light important facts. The percentage of children under 5 who are suffering from malnutrition is a staggering 42.5 %. Amartya Sen hits the bulls eye when he says hunger is not a political priority in a country where every single issue could cause a political turmoil. Simple solution such as iodizing the salt, immunizing children against preventable diseases will help this fight, but the corrupt bureaucracies of India prevent an overhaul of this situation. Infact, India has the world’s largest child feeding program, the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS). Yet, with little surprise the good intentions of implementing the program has not borne any fruits. It is not an easy task, yet when India seems to be at the fore front of prosperity, economic stability one has to feel is a country truly prosperous and wealthy if half of its future does not have enough food to eat?
I am saddened of having to read about the biggest threat facing my country in an article that is placed under the World/Asia category of an International newspaper. I am even more ashamed that the ‘leading’ news networks of India opt to cover Jane Goody’s heroic last days, or the very important issue of Sony channel bragging IPL coverage rights when India’s economy is growing to a future where it’s children may have stunted development. Sadly ironic, but it is true. We have had protests that ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ projects “India as Third World dirty underbelly developing nation”, and yet we fail to recogonize that until our children can afford to have access to nutritious food, it can never be truly considered as a developing nation.
The intention of this blog is to find out how to increase awareness of this problem. I would like to hear your ideas, opinions on what can be done to make this food program more efficient.Definitely a better marketing campaign,responsible governing of the program and responsibility taken by the people will help. While donations are always an idea, I do not think this program lacks the monetary stability. Should only politicians be held responsible for the program’s lack of success? Dont the people require our media outlets be held more accountable in the news they cover? How is it that Somini’s article is not printed in other leading Indian media outlets?
In a land that is run amok by clever advertisements highlighting the advantages of drinking one milk powder to the other, something can and should be definitely done to make sure Indian future does end up being “Taller,stronger and sharper”.
Note: I would like to thank Somini Sengupta for bringing to light an issue that has now impacted me and hopefully it would have impacted you in a similar way.