Children - Terre des Hommes

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Commission, Government of India, reveal that the poverty
ratio in the state is 40.9 per cent, significantly higher than that
of all India (27.5 per cent). In absolute numbers, the population
below poverty line in Chhattisgarh ranks third amongst the
major states in the country, after Orissa (46.4 per cent) and
Bihar (41.4 per cent). 165 With only 18.7 per cent of households
having access to proper sanitation facilities, Chhattisgarh is
ranked the lowest among the major states in India. 166
The literacy level in Chhattisgarh, at 65.1 per cent, is slightly
lower than the national average of 66 per cent. 167 Within the
literacy levels, there seems to be quite an extensive gender
divide—77.9 per cent of the male population were found
to be literate, compared to just 52.3 per cent of the female
population. However, the female literacy rate for SCs (at 49.2
percent) and STs (at 39.4 per cent) is even lower. 168
Another challenge for Chhattisgarh is the public health
sector. As per the Chhatisgarh Human Development Report
2005, health infrastructure in the state needs a considerable
upgrade, both in terms of coverage and reach as well as in
quality of services provided. The demand for more PHCs as
well as sub-health centres (SHCs) and CHCs is mentioned
in nearly every district report. 169 According to the NFHS-3
data, the reason a majority of the households did not access
government facilities was not necessarily due to poor quality
of care, but because there were no such facilities nearby. 170
The state has a high incidence of TB, malaria, leprosy and
jaundice. There is only one TB hospital in Raipur district
and two leprosy hospitals in Raipur and Dakshin Bastar,
Dantewada district. 171 Many district reports in the state speak
of poor levels of nutrition, and managing two square meals
is an issue for most people. In the village and district reports,
people repeatedly say that not having enough to eat is one
of the most important issues for them and that the lack of
adequate food is one of the biggest causes of ill-health. 172
Status of Children
According to the Census 2001, children (age group of 0–14
years) constitute 37 per cent of the total population of the
state. However, Chhattisgarh’s number of live births registered
(at 384,815) 173 is amongst the lowest of the major states in
India. The child sex ratio in the 0–6 age group, with 975 girls
per 1,000 boys is not only higher than the national average of
927, but the highest amongst India’s states. 174 However, this
sex ratio has actually gone down from that of 1991 (985),
with more boys being registered at birth than girls.
The NFHS-3 estimates the IMR in Chhattisgarh as 70.8 per
1,000 live births and the under five mortality rate as 90.3 per
1,000 (down from 80.9 per 1,000 live births and 122.7 per
1,000 live births respectively in 1998-99). The state does have
the highest level of perinatal mortality (64) and its vaccination
percentage of 48.7 is only slightly higher than the national
level. 175 Proper vaccination coverage is crucial to reducing
infant and child mortality. Malnutrition for children under 3
years of age remains high in Chhattisgarh, at 52.2 per cent
(ranking the state fourth among the major states in India). 176
Acute Respiratory Illness (ARI) is a major problem amongst
younger children (below 5 years) in the state, followed by
diarrhoea. The percentage of children with ARI symptoms who
actually received antibiotics was the lowest in Chhattisgarh (1
per cent). 177 As per the NFHS-3, the percentage of children
in Chhattisgarh who are offered more liquids once diagnosed
with diarrhoea (at 3.2 per cent) is also amongst the lowest of
India’s states, well below the national average of 10.5 per cent.
Majority of these children are given the same amount of fluids
as they were before diagnosis. This coupled with ARI and
fever, results in high mortality among children. Diseases such
as smallpox, polio and plague are also mentioned as illnesses
that took a heavy toll of life in the past, but the incidence of
such diseases has declined substantially today. 178
165 Economic Survey of India 2008-09. Pp. 263.
166 Ibid.
167 Census of India, 2001.
168 Data accessed on indiastat.com. Source: Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4090, dated 20.12.2005.
169 Chhattisgarh Human Development Report 2005, Prepared for the Government of Chhattisgarh. Pp. 131.
170 NFHS-3 3, 2005-06. Pp. 438.
171 Chhattisgarh Human Development Report 2005, Prepared for the Government of Chhattisgarh. Pp. 129.
172 Chhattisgarh Human Development Report 2005, Prepared for the Government of Chhattisgarh. Pp. 126.
173 Data accessed on indiastat.com. State-wise Number of Live Births Registered by Sex and Residence in India-2005. Source: Office of the Registrar General,
India.
174 Census of India, 2001.
175 NFHS-3, 2005-06.
176 Economic Survey of India 2008-09. Pg. 263.
177 NFHS-3, 2005-06. Pp. 236.
178 Chhattisgarh Human Development Report 2005, Prepared for the Government of Chhattisgarh. Pp. 123.