Young Lives Preliminary Country Report: Andhra Pradesh, India

This report provides a brief literature review of general poverty (both income and non-income) and childhood poverty in India and the state of Andhra Pradesh. It also reviews national policies which have an impact on childhood poverty. The authors identify key national audiences for the Young Lives study, describe the study methods and present preliminary, descriptive results of the first round of Young Lives research. Existing data on poverty in India and Andhra Pradesh highlights the regional disparities in economic and social development, particularly between states and between rural and urban areas. Child nutrition and health indicators present a disheartening picture, with 47 per cent of Indian children (aged 0-3 years) underweight and 38 per cent underweight in Andhra Pradesh. Andhra Pradesh ranks low in terms of child education and literacy compared with the national average. Andhra Pradesh also has the highest number of child labourers in India, while India as a whole has the highest number in the world. Studies have also shown that most rural children’s intellectual development between six and twelve years of age is below average or average. A review of policy reveals that Andhra Pradesh has comprehensive policies and programmes to address various aspects of deprivation faced by poor children. These programmes need fine tuning, however, to effect lasting changes for the worst affected groups. Research from Young Lives provides important evidence and information on a multi-dimensional conceptualisation of childhood poverty. Using evidence from Andhra Pradesh, it takes the debate beyond the realm of child labour and into that of child well-being. The authors here discuss key findings from the first round of Young Lives data collection in Andhra Pradesh, and present provisional conclusions on questions of nutrition, health, education, literacy, child labour, the environment, and access to basic household services and goods