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

Introduction

You can begin your answer by stating that a two-way link exists between malnutrition and poverty, creating a vicious cycle →which in turn hampers human capital formation.

You can substantiate with data–

• 11.28% multidimensionally poor in 2022-23; 
• According to NFHS-5 (2019-21), 35.5% of children under five are stunted, and 32.1% are underweight.

Body

Vicious Cycle of Poverty and Malnutrition

Impact on Human Capital Formation

• Poverty→Malnutrition→High rates of illness and absenteeism, affecting both educational attainment and productivity in the workforce.
• Poverty→Low investments in education→low skill and educational development→poor human capital formation.

Steps to be taken to break the cycle

• Food and Nutritional Security: Addressing Malnutrition by providing greater food security to low-income families.
  • E.g., Poshan Abhiyaan, PDS, Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY)
• Access to Affordable Healthcare: To ensure better maternal and child health & nutrition, preventing malnutrition at an early stage.
  • E.g., Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), ICDS
• Universal access to WASH: Access to clean drinking water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) can reduce the prevalence of childhood malnutrition and stunting by preventing diarrhoea.
  • E.g., Jal Jeevan Mission
• Education and Skill Development: Investing in education and enhancing vocational training to boost employability.
  • E.g., Skill India Mission, National Career Service Project
• Employment Generation: Income-support measures can help lift families out of poverty, enabling them to afford better nutrition and healthcare.
  • E.g., MGNREGA, Atmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana (ABRY), Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Protsahan Yojana (PMRPY).
• Financial Inclusion: to increase access to financial services, enabling poor households to save and invest in health and education.
  • E.g., Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY)

Conclusion

• You can highlight that India loses 4% of its GDP annually due to malnourishment and hence, the objective of 5 trillion dollar economy cannot be met without addressing the issue of poverty and malnutrition. 
• We need to break this vicious cycle and transform it into a virtuous cycle of human development →India can draw lessons from Brazil’s Bolsa Família Program→ successfully reduced poverty and malnutrition through conditional cash transfers linked to health and education. 

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