Gender Discrimination in Child Nutrition in the States of Bihar & Jharkhand: An Obstacle to Inclusive Growth

It is now a well established fact that there exists rampant malnutrition in many regions of the world, especially in countries of South and East Asia. India is no exception and addressing this problem has become a major concern for policy makers and implementers over the last few decades, especially in light of the drive towards making growth inclusive. {tc \l 1 "Nutritional Status"}{PRIVATE}{tc \l 1 ""}Inadequate and poor diet and repeated exposure to diseases and illness combined with improper care during childhood are the major cause of malnutrition among children (Pelletier 1994; Ruzicka and Kane 1985). Discriminations, whether implicit or explicit, in nutrition and child care have exacerbated the plight of the girl child, which manifests in excess female mortality, as has been highlighted by many studies (Tabutin and Willems, 1995; Arnold, 1992; Hill and Upchurch 1995). It is well recognized fact that malnourished children will grow into malnourished adults with lower capacities and abilities. Several policy initiatives have been launched to ensure equitable access to life skills but they will be sustainable only if they can address the current and emerging issues that affect food security, nutrition, poverty, and gender equity. Infant and Child Mortalit