Nutrition, Health, Sanitation, Water and Climate Change

Abstract

Insufficiency of nutrition, health and clean water provision, and the impact of climate change, urban pollution and lack of sanitary facilities for the poor are examined. Their inadequacy impinges directly on the poor. India’s past programmes on food security, public distribution, child development, rural health and national health insurance were introduced with fanfare but, by and large, attained limited to very limited success. There is little reliable Social Impact Assessment of government programmes. Provision of healthcare remains among the lowest in the world, worsening down the income scale. India was behind its SDG goals for water and sanitation in 2020. Though the provision of basic facilities has improved, and open defecation decreased, the rate was slower than comparable countries such as Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Night soil removal continues to be performed mainly by the lowest castes. Deterioration of groundwater through chemicals exacerbates poverty. Amelioration is a severe challenge despite a 2016 legislation. Local water resource management would comprise a bottom-up approach. Exposure to climate change has been daunting in various states with the worst impact on the poor as they tend to live in low-lying areas. India is 5th in the 2021 Climate Risk Index among 180 countries.