India’s Child Stunting Crisis: The Overlooked Role of Caste

New research indicates that decades of caste discrimination have contributed to India experiencing higher rates of child stunting compared to Sub-Saharan Africa. These two regions collectively contain 44% of the global under-five population and account for approximately 70% of stunted children worldwide, which is a critical measure of malnutrition. While both regions have achieved considerable progress in recent years, India’s stunting rate is 35.7%, whereas the average across Sub-Saharan Africa’s 49 countries stands at 33.6%. A child is defined as stunted when their height is below the expected level for their age, signifying significant nutritional deficiencies. However, a study conducted by Ashwini Deshpande of Ashoka University and Rajesh Ramachandran of Monash University, Malaysia, revealed that solely focusing on the height disparity—or why Indian children are shorter than those in Sub-Saharan Africa—fails to acknowledge a crucial element: the vital impact of social identity, particularly caste, on child malnutrition within India. The initial 1,000 days of a child’s existence, often referred to as the “golden period,” are critical; 80% of the brain develops by age two, establishing the groundwork for lifelong potential. During these formative years, access to healthcare, adequate nutrition, early education, and a secure environment profoundly influences a child’s future. India and Sub-Saharan Africa, both characterized by expanding middle classes, youthful populations, and substantial workforce potential, have long been subjects of comparison. In 2021, the World Bank reported, “Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia [including India] account for over 85% of the global poor,” highlighting shared challenges in poverty and development. Utilizing official data, the researchers analyzed the most recent estimates of stunting differences between India and a selection of 19 Sub-Saharan African nations. Official figures show that over 35% of India’s 137 million children under five are stunted, with more than a third also being underweight. Globally, 22% of children under five are stunted. Subsequently, they investigated six broad socially disadvantaged groups in India. These include adivasis (tribespeople residing in remote areas) and Dalits (historically known as untouchables), who together constitute over a third of the under-five population. The economists discovered that the stunting rate among children from higher-ranked, non-stigmatized caste groups in India was 27%, which is notably lower than the Sub-Saharan African rate. They further determined that children from higher-ranking caste groups in India are approximately 20% less likely to experience stunting compared to those from marginalized groups, who occupy the lowest echelons of the caste hierarchy. This finding remains significant even after accounting for variables such as birth order, sanitation practices, maternal height, sibling count, education, anaemia, and household socio-economic status. This disparity persists despite seven decades of affirmative action, as India’s caste system—a four-tiered hierarchy rooted in the Hindu religion—remains deeply embedded. “This should not be surprising given that children from better-off groups in India have access to more calories and face a better disease environment,” the authors say. The underlying causes of high stunting rates among Indian children have generated a complex debate over the years. Some economists have posited that the differences are genetic, suggesting that Indian children are genetically predisposed to shorter heights. Others contend that improved nutrition across generations has historically closed height gaps previously attributed to genetics. Certain studies have indicated that girls fare worse than boys, while others, using different global standards, have found the opposite. Indeed, stunting has declined across social groups; a separate study from 2022 revealed that improvements in health and nutrition interventions, household living conditions, and maternal factors led to a reduction in stunting in four Indian states. (According to a federal family health survey from 1992-93, more than half of India’s under-five children were stunted.) Children from marginalized groups, such as adivasis, are likely to experience greater malnutrition. In Africa, the stunting rate has also decreased since 2010, although the absolute number has increased. However, it is evident that children from impoverished families, those with less-educated mothers, or from marginalized groups in India are particularly susceptible to stunting. “The debate on the height gap between Indian and Sub-Saharan African children has resulted in overlooking the role of social identity, especially caste status,” the authors assert. “This is a crucial dimension to understanding the burden of child nutrition in India.” The analysis draws upon data from demographic and health surveys. For India, it incorporates the most recent data from 2019-21, and for Sub-Saharan Africa, it includes data from 19 countries with surveys conducted from 2015 onwards. The dataset encompasses anthropometric—measurements pertaining to the physical dimensions and composition of the human body—outcomes for 195,024 children under five in India and 202,557 children under five in Sub-Saharan Africa.