Malnutrition is the condition that develops when the body is deprived of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients it needs to maintain healthy tissues and organ function. Malnutrition occurs in people who are either undernourished or overnourished.

1. History of malnutrition in slum in India
• Despite India's 50% rise in GDP since 2013, one third of the world's
malnourished children reside in India. It’s estimated that half of the
children under the age of three years old are underweight
• Economic inadequacy is one of the major causes of malnutrition in
India. Compared with their better-fed peers, nutrition-deficient people are
more likely to get infectious diseases such as pneumonia and tuberculosis
that lead to a larger mortality rate. Furthermore, nutrition-deficient
people are less productive at work.
• Government scheme for the slum
• To address the problem of homelessness, the government introduced a
number of strategies over the years and tried to close the gap between
needs and provision.
• some of the programs the government has used to promote urban
development are :

2. 1. Smart City Mission:
• Launched: 2015
• Vision: To create 'Smart Cities' by empowering them socially,
economically and technologically to act as support system in the
neighbourhood.
• Implemented Cities: 100 cities across India
• Focus: Basic amenities, education, health services, IT accessibility,
digitisation, e-governance, sustainable development, safety and security
• According to the scheme, a city would be called a 'Smart City' if it has
adequate access to basic facilities such as water, shelter, education,
electricity, solid waste management, public transport, health services
along with information technology connectivity and digitisation that
would enable e-governance. Such a city would largely focus on
sustainable development that can act as a support system for the
neighbouring cities. The infrastructure of the city ensures safety and
security of its natives. Many countries such as Singapore, Japan, and the
USA have come forward to join hands with India to initiate the Smart
City Mission.

3. 2. Housing for All by 2022
• Launched: 2015
• Target: 2022
• Vision: Making housing affordable for people from every section of society
Implemented Cities: 305 cities and towns across nine states
• Focus: To make housing affordable for eligible weaker sections (EWS) and
low income group (LIG) and eradicate slums Initiatives: Construction of the
houses for the slum dwellers under the slum rehabilitation scheme and
providing loans at subsidised rates for the economically weaker sections.
• 'Housing for All scheme,' as the name suggests, aims to eliminate slums
and make housing affordable for the economically weaker section by
2022.
• Previous schemes of similar nature (Rajiv Awas Yojana, Affordable
Housing in Partnership, Rajiv Rinn Yojana) were discontinued to make one
comprehensive scheme called the 'PradhanMantri Awas Yojana- Housing
for All by 2022.‘
• It has partnered with public and private developers to build houses for
the ones residing in informal settlements, especially the slums. Housing
loans will be given upto 6 lakhs at the rate of 6.5% interest for 15 years will
be given under 'credit linked subsidy' scheme. Few banks gives home loans
for slums in very low interest rate.

4. NGO working for slum people regarding malnutrition
• Udaan Foundation which is a children’s NGO in Mumbai ,runs a one-year
foundation program to facilitate school readiness for children age 4-6
years from low-income communities.
• Its motto is to make a strong foundation in language and social skills in a
safe , secure , and happy learning environment.
• With the help of the donations the teachers get their salaries and they
Sponsor a child’s education in Mumbai to help them dream a better future
beyond slums.

5. Causes of malnutrition in slum area
Some of the causes of child malnutrition are as below:
1. India has major problem for malnutrition in economic inequality
2. Lacks of awareness for nutritional qualities of food, irrational beliefs
about food, inappropriate child rearing and feeding habits
3. Because of low purchasing power, poor cannot afford to buy desired
amount and desired quality of food for the family.
4. Infections like measles and malaria or recurrent attacks of diarrhoea may
precipitate acute malnutrition
5. Inequitable distribution for food in the family. In most of the poor
households, women and preschool children especially girls receive less
food compare the economically active male members.
6. In large families food distribution is low.
7. Rapid succession of pregnancies affects the nutritional status of the
mother.
8. Quality of sanitation is very low , housing and water supply too. These
contribute for ill health and infections thus Causes malnutrition.
9. Inadequate maternal and child care.

6. Sanitation condition of slum
• Numerous sanitation strategies have been developed to address the issue
of sanitation. Some of them are as:
• Toilet blocks-
A toilet block constructed as seat and bathroom are attached. It can
either be accessible to the general public (public blocks) or have
restricted use to within a community or slum (community blocks).
• Portable toilets–Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board manufactured
the portable toilet vans for around 15-16 years and used it in large slums
and any event.
• The toilet vans are stationed within accessible distance to the slum
community and connected either to the sewerage network of the city or
to a septic tank that gets evacuated periodically.
• A local NGO manages the fee collection and maintenance of the toilet
van.
• Vans are prepared by metal sheets and are susceptible to rust and wear
for a long time.

7. Work condition of poor people from slum area
• The poor people living in slums lack in skills and education as well as
competitive job markets so the slum dwellers face high rates of
unemployment.
• Due to the limited job opportunities many of them to employ themselves
in the informal economy, inside the slum or in developed urban areas near
the slum.