On Hunger and Child Mortality in India

Despite accelerated growth there is pervasive hunger, child undernutrition and mortality.
Our analysis focuses on their determinants. Raising living standards alone will not reduce
hunger and undernutrition. Reduction of rural/urban disparities, income inequality,
consumer price stabilisation, mothers’ literacy have all roles of varying importance in
different nutrition indicators. Somewhat surprisingly, PDS does not have a significant
effect on any of them. Generally, child undernutrition and mortality rise with poverty.
Our analysis confirms that media exposure triggers public action, and helps avert child
undernutrition and mortality. Drastic reduction of economic inequality is in fact key to
averting child mortality.