The Effect of under Nutrition on Schooling, Adult Productivity and Economic Growth in South -West Madhya Pradesh, India

This study revealed the impact of malnutrition on schooling, learning and the lifetime earning potential of the child. For decades, south-west Madhya Pradesh (MP) has been one of the state’s worst malnutrition affected area in India. According to the Global Hunger Index, malnutrition in the south western tribal areas of the state is even more concerning. Average rate of malnutrition in children under 5 is already “extremely alarming” According to Rural Health Commission the proportion of underweight children in these districts can range from 61-96%. Malnutrition is rampant throughout almost every town in south western MP. During collection of data in the districts of Jhabua, Alirajpur, Khandwa, Khargone and Burhanpur in 2010 it was found that in rural areas every second children are affected by malnutrition. Data collected from these districts are analyzed at SPSS software. It was found that better health conditions increase workers productivity, reduce ill days and increase working capacity of the labour by reducing morbidity and disability. Education which plays a vital role in economic development can only be effective if there is good health. It is true that schooling pays off in terms of higher incomes, but such gain is bounded by good health. Poor health and malnutrition reduce the gains of schooling in three areas, enrolment, ability to learn and participation by girls, poor health children lagged behind in education and learning. Therefore, health and education are inter-linked and can only maximize adult productivity and economic growth.