Indian has the highest youth population of the world. However, the human capital index of India has been consistently been low. This has been a major reason for poor realisation of human capital in India despite its enormous work force. Early nutrition has crucial linkages to education and economic prosperity. This presentation highlights the problems faced by Indian and the possible solutions.

1. Investment in early childhood
nutrition in India

2. State of Human Capital in India
 India is the second most populous country in the
world.
 Every fifth child in the world is Indian.
 India is ranked 115 among 157 countries in the
Human Capital Index Report published by World
Bank in 2018.
 A child born in India today will only achieve 44%
of her potential when she grows up.
 The Government is in denial.
 Can we afford it ?

3. Early Nutrition & Education have crucial
links
 Malnourishment can affect physical and
mental development of children.
 Poor mental growth leads to poor learning
and education.
 Poorly educated children cannot attain their
complete potential and suffer from low
productivity and poverty in adulthood.

4. Brain develops fastest in first 1000 days

5.  As per the report published in Lancet Child &
Adolescent Health (September 2019)-
 In India Two-thirds of 1.04 million deaths in
children under 5 years are due to malnutrition.
 Massive loss of human capital in India is
attributable to lack of investment in early
childhood nutrition.

6. Major Causes of malnourishment
 Lack of awareness in parents and
caregivers.
 Poverty and lack of resources to provide
nutritious food.
 Inadequate state intervention.
Inadequate and inefficient
implementation of state polices for
preventing malnutrition.
The pictures display food served in
government funded schools to poor
children in India.

7. Possible solutions
 Awareness campaigns for parents and
caregivers on the importance of early
childhood nutrition.
 Push for periodic cash transfers to parents
and caregivers of young children for the
first 1000 days after birth.
 Ensuring supply of vital vitamin
supplements and deworming medicines to
young children during compulsory
immunization visits.

8.  Direct cash transfers have proven to have a positive impact on the quality of food
consumed by poor children.
 Children of daily wagers, informal laborers, rag pickers benefit from small cash
transfers.

9. Desirable government initiatives
 Better coordination among the following ministries in India can aid efficient
implementation of state policies for tackling malnourishment:
 Rural Development
 Public Distribution and Civil Supplies
 Health and Family Welfare
 Women and Child Development
 Drinking Water and Sanitation
 Agriculture
 Tribal Affairs
 Minority Affairs

10. Thank you