Is Govt doing enough to solve health problems?

HEALTH ISSUE: Chidambaram has set aside Rs 165 billion to be spent on improving the nutrition and health.

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Keywords: government, health

New Delhi: In yet another bid to address India’s health problems, the Finance Minister P Chidambaram has set aside Rs 165 billion to be spent on improving the nutrition and health of India.

But how successful have these programmes been in solving issues of health and nutrition?

Nearly 70 per cent of children below the age of three are anaemic in India, according to the figures of the latest National Family Health Survey

In rural India the figure is 71.5 per cent. Sixty-three per cent of children in the urban areas are anaemic.

Recently the government launched a campaign where the aim was to educate people through recipe books and nutrition guides on what you and your child should be eating.

“This campaign is spread all over India, we are creating awareness,” says Women and Child Development Minister, Renuka Choudhary.

But the fact remains that there are large gaps between these intentions and the implementation of Integrated Child Development services.

NGOs on their part are doing their bit but they have little faith in the government's commitment.

“The government is not committed to the cause,” says Executive Director, Deepalaya, M O Peter.

The least the government can do is make the system more transparent and ensure that health aid reaches the children for whom it is meant.