We
all know that India is the second most populated country in the
world. The percentage of children is higher in India when compared to
other countries. While taking into consideration their development
growth, we lack behind. There is a report that says the death rate of
children in India is on the higher level. This is due to many
reasons. I would like to point out some of them.
The
main and foremost reason is, more percentage of children die due to
malnutrition. They dont get enough or proper dietary food or food
supplements, that results in underweight children which in turn limit
not only their growth and development, but also their capacity to
learn things, probably leading to death.
Secondly,
there is a data that claims nearly three lakh babies die within a few
hours of birth because of infections and preventable causes. Not only
this, nearly 4 lakh children are affected by easily preventable
diseases like pneumonia and diarrhoea and they die even before the
age of five.
There
is one more issue that acts a major role in the death of babies,
especially the girl baby- female foeticide. In some parts of the
country, the girl child is utterly disliked and the baby is killed
the moment she is born. Even if she escapes death, she is forced to
face many problems throught out her life. She is given a second class
citizenship like no proper food, no education, no rights, etc.
Another serious issue which is even now prevailing in many areas is
the child marriage. Girl child not knowing anything is forced to
marry at the very young age. As a result, she gives birth to a
underweight baby due to poor nourishment, as a case there is very
less chance of survival at the end, for both the child mother and the
baby.
We
know that many children die every year due to malnutrition, the other
reason that stands for is childhood obesity. This is because of the
present day food culture that we follow like junk food and lack of
physical play, which leads to many diseases and health related issues
in children starting at the very young age of five.
Whatever
we have seen as the reasons and causes for the death of children in
India, are preventable and avoidable. Only thing is that we should
frame strict rules and precautionary measures to eradicate poverty,
malnutrition and severe rules and regulations to abolish chid
marriage and see that every girl child gets her citizenship rights.