DOES DEMOLITION OF SLUMS AFFECTS ON PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN’S HEALTH IN MUMBAI.docVIP

SANJAY RODE DOES DEMOLITION OF SLUMS AFFECTS ON PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN’S HEALTH IN MUMBAI? DOES DEMOLITION OF SLUMS AFFECTS ON PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN’S HEALTH IN MUMBAI? Sanjay RODE Center for Development Alternatives, Ahmedabad, Gujarat India sanjayjrode@ Abstract This paper compares the incidence of malnutrition among below five age group children in demolished and not demolished slums in Mumbai. After demolition of kuttcha slums, the incidence of stunting and wasting increases among boys. The incidence of underweight is observed very high for girls. Incidence of severe malnourishment becomes double after demolition of kuttcha slums. The logit regression model shows that the incidence of malnourishment among 0-5 age group children is negatively related to per capita income, age of the child, mother’s education, and positively related to mother’s body mass index. As far as malnourishment among pre- school children is concerned then, dummy variable for demolished slums is positive and statistically significant. The policy mix of redevelopment of kuttcha slums, income improvement through training to women, opening up of new Anganwadi centers, provision of health care facilities and sanitation will certainly reduce the incidence of child malnutrition in Mumbai. Keywords: demolished slums, malnutrition, underweight. 1. Introduction The prevalence of child malnutrition is very high and half of the preschool children are underweight in Maharashtra (IIPS and Macro 2007). Malnutritition among children retards physical and cognitive growth. The physical growth retardation occurs either during pregnancy or during first two years of life. The cognitive deficit affects school outcome, includes a reduced capacity to learn and fewer total years of schooling. Such lower physical and cognitive growth affects on educational attainment, future productivity and income. In Mumbai, almost sixty percen