In Shivaji Nagar, one of Mumbai’s most deprived slums, more than half the children are stunted and life expectancy is just 39 years (lower than the worlds worst performing country, Sierra Leone, where its 52 years). Local NGOs like Apnalaya work against many odds to educate and support parents, who often cant afford nutritious food when an average of 12% of their income is just spent on buying water from private tankers !! But living in makeshift homes right next to Mumbai’s largest garbage dumping mound (I’d call it a mountain) doesn’t make things easier or less expensive either. Despite initiatives like the National Nutrition Mission and Swachh Bharat, State governments are so neglectful because “Simply put, children are not a vote bank”. They don’t seem to realize that these children will grow up to join the world’s soon-to-be largest workforce.
Photographed this story for @aljazeeraenglish on child malnutrition, the lack of political will to improve public healthcare infrastructure & its impact on the future of India’s economy authored by @tishsanghera
