Kathmandu (AsiaNews) - In southern Nepal, 50 per cent of children, mostly from minority groups, suffer from malnutrition, this according to a study carried out by district development committees, in cooperation with UNICEF, in 15 southern districts of the country.
The survey was conducted as part of the Equality Hindrance Analysis Programme, which aims at reducing malnutrition in this country, and involved 123 village development committees, spread across 15 districts in southern Nepal.
The study considered quality and availability of health care, education, and drinking water, as well as the development of women and children.
For Shambu Kushwaha, a member of the Parsa District Development Committee (near Narayani, south of the capital), "children in the southern districts are vulnerable. Some 50 per cent suffer from malnutrition and child abuse," and "45 per cent is touched by child labour practices with the rest forced into early marriage."
Illiteracy, poverty, lack of opportunities for development and rising consumer prices are among the main causes of malnutrition.
The findings indicate that most disadvantaged children belong to minority groups, from lower castes, the poor and religious minorities (especially Muslims).
Guru Prasad Mainali, a local development officer in Parsa District, said that the authorities are discussing ways to change the situation. The government, he noted, plans to put in place some programmes in the southern districts and then extend them to other parts of the country.
In view of the situation, the country is still far from meeting the Millennium development goals for Nepali children set by the United Nations in 2000. They latter include the eradication of poverty and hunger, the reduction of child mortality, as well as gender equality and women's autonomy.