Economic Growth, Poverty and Malnutrition in India

The present study evaluated the inter-linkages between economic growth, poverty and malnutrition to explain if the economic growth lead reduction in poverty has been able to combat malnutrition level over the period of study from 1993-94 to 2004-05 using National Sample Survey, National Family Health Survey and National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau. The study found improvements in level of poverty from 1993-94 to 2004-05 however the nutritional status showed no improvements especially from 1998-99 to 2005-06. The reduction in poverty did not improve the level of nutrients intake which has been declining during the period of study. At all India level the study found there exist a connect between economic growth and poverty as well as poverty and malnutrition however states wise analysis showed otherwise for some of the states. The study also found prevalence of malnutrition level in children below three years of age among the richer wealth groups. The results reinforced that poverty or income is not the only factor causing the malnutrition level in the children; there exist factors other than poverty and calorie intake affecting the nutritional status of the children estimated using logistic regression at unit level such as household, social and demographic characteristics.