In a study of four metros and one mini metro in the country, the NGO Child Rights and You (CRY) has found Chennai with the highest number of underweight children living in slums followed by Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Bengaluru respectively.
According to a household survey of 1,260 slum children in the five cities, the prevalence of underweight children was the highest in Chennai at 62.6 percent followed by Delhi (50.2 percent), Kolkata (49 percent) and Mumbai (41.3 percent).
Over 30 percent of Bengaluru slum children below six were found to be underweight while 52 percent suffer from stunting, a study by Child Rights and You (CRY) NGO stated on Tuesday.
"If we, as a nation, do not prioritise investment in rights of children below six years of age, the consequences would be manifested not just in his childhood but will pose an impediment in adult life," Suma Ravi, regional director, CRY, said in a statement.
Focusing on Bengaluru, the study observed that Aanganwadi Centres which offer health, nutrition and early education to slum children could only touch 47 percent of the target group to offer its services.
Nearly 48 percent of the target group of slum children were not de-wormed, de-worming is a measure aimed at addressing the health issues which arise due to soil transmitted helminthes (parasitic worm).
Most of the children belong to underprivileged sections of the city who come from migrant families where the caregiver is mostly absent on account of employment in the informal sector, the study said.
CRY is a 30-year-old Indian NGO serving underprivileged children.