Can we fix the 'failing system'?

“I see a system failing,” Ms. Menon said. “It is doing something, but it is not solving the problem.”

From NY Times, March 2009 "As Indian Growth Soars, Child Hunger Persists"

Malnutrition in India is worse than in many African nations, stunting the growth of children

In India, despite robust growth and good government intentions, the malnutrition rate is 42.5 percent (42.5% of children under 5 are under weight). Malnutrition makes children more prone to illness and stunts physical and intellectual growth for a lifetime.

In another alley, Ms. Menon met a young mother named Jannu, a migrant from the northern town of Lucknow. Jannu said she found it difficult to produce enough milk for the baby in her arms, around 6 months old. His green, watery waste dripped down his mother’s arms. He often has diarrhea, Jannu said, casually rinsing her arm with a tumbler of water.

Ms. Menon could not help but notice how small Jannu was, like so many of Jahangirpuri’s mothers. At 5 feet 2 inches tall, Ms. Menon towered over them. Children who were roughly the same age as her own daughter were easily a foot shorter. Stunted children are so prevalent here, she observed, it makes malnutrition invisible.

“I see a system failing,” Ms. Menon said. “It is doing something, but it is not solving the problem.”


From IndiaTogether : http://indiatogether.org/photo/2004/pov-malnutr.htm