India sits at 113 out of the 176 countries of an index that measures children’s wellbeing. The evaluation, known as The End of Childhood Index, is part of the Global Childhood Report released by UK-based non-profit organisation Save the Children, which advocates for child rights. This index assesses countries on eight indicators to evaluate the wellbeing of children and teenagers (0-19 years).
Methodology of the End of Childhood Index
The index gives each country a score out of 1,000 based on eight key considerations. These indicators are mortality rates among under five-year-olds, malnutrition causing stunted growth, education deficiency, child labour, early marriage, adolescent births, displacement due to conflict, and child homicide.
India’s Performance on Child Mortality
In the last two decades, India has reduced its child mortality rate by 55%, from 88 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000 to 39 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2017. When compared to neighbouring countries, India performs better only than Pakistan in terms of under-five mortality. Other countries like Sri Lanka, China, Bhutan, Nepal and Bangladesh have outperformed India. The main causes of these deaths mainly include preventable infectious diseases, followed by injuries, meningitis, measles, and malaria.
The Stunting Situation in India
Globally, low height for age, or stunting, among under-five children fell 25% from 198 million children to 149 million between 2000 and 2019. However, around 38% of children under five were stunted in India, making it the second-worst performing neighbor after Pakistan. The lowest stunting rate in the region was seen in China, followed by Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Bhutan. Extreme disparities can be seen in India’s states – Bihar has the highest rate of child stunting, followed by Jharkand and Chhattisgarh. The lowest rates are found in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
The State of Education in India
Despite efforts to provide free universal education, around 20% of Indian children aged 8-16 were out of school as of 2018. Among its neighbours, only Pakistan performed worse than India. Other countries like Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and China showed better performance.
Child Marriages in India
In the 18 years leading up to 2018, India halved its number of child marriages. The rates for girls from the most impoverished backgrounds fell at least as much as those from wealthier brackets. The decline has been sharpest among girls below the age of 15. The minimum marriage age was increased from 15 to 18 for girls, and from 18 to 21 for boys.
The Situation of Adolescent Births
India succeeded in lowering adolescent births by 63% since 2000, resulting in two million fewer young mothers. India alone makes up almost three-quarters of the worldwide reduction in adolescent births.
Pertinent Facts on Child Wellbeing in India
| Country | Score/1000 on global index | Under Five Mortality (per 1,000 live births) | Stunting situation (%) | Children out of school (%) | Adolescent Birth Rate (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | 113 | 39 | 38 | 20 | 24.5 |
| Pakistan | – | 74.9 | 40.8 | 40.8 | 37.7 |
| Sri Lanka | – | 8.8 | 17.3 | 6.4 | 14.8 |
The Effects of India’s Social Welfare Programmes
Much of India’s progress can be attributed to its social welfare programmes, which have encouraged more girls to stay in school and increased access to sexual and reproductive health services. Legislation such as the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 has worked to curb child marriage. Community-based interventions including empowerment counseling, sexual and reproductive health information, vocational training, and life skills development for girls have also played critical roles.
Government programs like the Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (SABLA), Kishori Shakti Yojana and Nutrition Programme for Adolescent Girls have contributed to improving adolescent girls’ health. Increased public investments and targeted interventions to ensure universal healthcare and education for marginalized children are required to further enhance the wellbeing of children.