Status of Child Health in Megacities of India

The Census of India, 2011 identifies eight megacities in India located in the major States of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Gujarat and Maharashtra and the National Capital Region of Delhi. These megacities exert a profound influence on the socio-economic life of not only the concerned State but of the surrounding territories also. They are generally marked with administrative coherence, sound planning for development accompanied with boastful infrastructural facilities and urban amenities. Despite such glorious and attractive life, these cities have a darker social side as well. They suffer from the problem of migration of the poor people leading to the growth of registered slums and unauthorized shanties. The uncontrolled growth of population thus culminates into a number of social and economic problems inclusive of poverty, unemployment, social deprivation and social pathological issues. This research endeavor therefore tries to focus on the demographic problems related to sex ratio (both general and child) and status of education particularly that of the female counterparts. It further attempts to throw light on the existing situation of child health dealing with the evils of under-age marriage of girls, domiciliary deliveries inclusive of its consequences along with child death below one year and below five years of age.