Centre for Equity Studies say inadequate facilities for women, infants.
By Sreekanth A. Nair
Despite having robust economic growth, India still remains terribly backward in areas like healthcare, drinking water and sanitation, says a report published by the Centre for Equity Studies, New Delhi.
The India Exclusion Report released by the organization shows that poor maternal and infant health care has resulted in achieving a life expectancy of 66 years, which is just above the life expectancy of Ethiopia.
However, according to 2014 government data, the life expectancy of India is 71.5, which is slightly higher than the global average of 71.
The report blames the government for its failure to provide basic infrastructure to poor and vulnerable. Drinking water and sanitation facilities are not available in 47% of Indian homes.
The report also points out some practices from across the nation that can help people overcome the lack of access to basic infrastructure.
It discusses practices such as Pimpri Chinchwad, in Maharashtra; a surveillance, disease prevention and outbreak response in Chennai, and community outreach practices in Raipur, Chattisgarh.
It cites the example of Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board that simplified the procedures to get water connection in 2000.
“The requirement of formal tenure documents for new connections was replaced with simple occupancy proof (to address concerns of land tenure), connection fees were reduced and tariff structure for domestic water was revised to introduce lower minimum monthly charge (to address concerns of affordability), and shared connections were offered as an alternative”, said the report.
According to the report, 43% of women in the working age group of 19 to 59 years only do domestic work. Poor health and education facilities affect the women community adversely. It has also found that maternal health benefits do not reach women properly.
It is estimated that the single woman population of India is around 71 million and their number has increased 39% over a decade. They don’t have equal opportunity to participate in economic activities due to social stigma related to their status.
Another key finding in the report is that an estimated 44 million children in India work, that too in vulnerable conditions. They suffer from various health issues such as orthopedic ailments, injuries, stunting of gastrointestinal, endocrinal and reproductive systems.
The report noted that disadvantaged groups are always the victims of violence. It discusses the example of riots that took place in Muzaffarnagar and Shamli in western Uttar Pradesh in September, 2013.
“52 persons lay dead, over 60 had been grievously injured, and scores of houses destroyed in fires, across 14 villages (the effect radiating to 74 adjoining villages) in (the) two districts,” it said.
If the government rolls out Goods and Services Tax (GST), it will increase the Gross Domestic Product by 2% and thereby increase the government’s tax income which may help poor people in the way of social security measures, said the report.