India's child stunting can't be stopped unless poverty kept in check

A market economy is not efficient in dealing with problems like child stunting

In the 1970s, undernutrition was a common problem in the urban slums and poorer regions of Sao Paulo in southeastern Brazil. Brazilian health crusader Carlos Monteiro, who was practising medicine in these pockets then, recalls the large number of stunted children he dealt with.

Brazil was then known as one of the most unequal societies in the world. The richest 20 per cent of its population held 56 per cent of its wealth.

Brazil then started bold initiatives like Bolsa Familia Program where a small amount is transferred to poor families every month to