Paper short abstract:

The paper discusses the levels of child malnutrition and health status of infants and children in a economically developed agriculturally prosperous state of India. It suggests the factors behind such a situation and possible solutions to the problem.

Paper long abstract:

It is generally believed that poverty is the root cause of undernutrition and poor health among infants and children in developing countries. A study conducted by me in 16 villages of Haryana State, in India, which is one of the economically developed and foodgrain surplus state of the country reveals that malnutrition is very much a problem in this part of country. The recent NFHS 3 survey findings too have revealed that proportion of children with wasting and underweight have increased rather than decreasing over a period of 10 years. The present paper of mine brings out that malnutrition among children is disquieting and is present in all sections of society cutting across socio-economic and spatial dimensions. The study too suggests the possible factors beyond socio-economic characteristics, i.e. the agricultural practices adopted by farmers here. The region has witnessed green revolution and cropping pattern has changed to two crop combinations (rice and wheat) over a period of time replacing pulses and other crops. The study too suggests short term and long term measures to improve the nutrition and health status of infants and children in the state.