Poverty and malnutrition create a vicious cycle, adversely affecting human capital formation. What steps can be taken to break the cycle? (Answer in 150 words)

Introduction

Low income restricts nutritious consumption and healthcare; malnutrition then reduces cognition, productivity and earning capacity, reproducing poverty.

Breaking the cycle

• Strengthen POSHAN, ICDS, school meals and maternity entitlements with diversified local diets, eggs or equivalent protein and micronutrients.
• Ensure safe water, sanitation, immunisation, primary healthcare, maternal care and breastfeeding support.
• Use poverty-sensitive social protection, direct benefit transfers, PDS portability and employment guarantees.
• Invest in girls’ education, women’s agency, early childhood stimulation and adolescent health.

Implementation priorities

• Converge health, nutrition, agriculture, education and rural development departments.
• Track stunting, wasting, anaemia and service quality through disaggregated data, community monitoring and accountable frontline workers.

Keywords: stunting, wasting, anaemia, POSHAN, ICDS, PDS, human capital, convergence.