Click to play videoNew Delhi: Four children are estimated to die every minute, in the country mostly from preventable diseases, like diarrhoea. Though Delhi doesn't rank amongst India's six worst hit states for malnutrition, the figures are just as bad.
A survey has been done at Kali Basti in Delhi by CRY. The survey of 101 children found 56 of them were malnourished.
"We work in 21 states, and the situation in Delhi is just as gloomy. Because of malnourishment, child's immunity is low...then gets diarrhoea, malaria, that's actually not the reason of death. The reason is malnourishment," said CRY Senior Manager Jaya Singh.
Suman's son found eating sand, a sign of calcium deficiency. Suman is not the only parent in the area who has to worry. Brown hairs of children at the basti are signs of malnourishment and it has been found it is partly because children are left holding down the fort as the parents go off to work.
"The kids who were found malnourished, their mothers and fathers are going to work. the older siblings are watching them, many don't know what to feed them, or vaccinate," said Ram Kumar, Founder, NGO Aehsas.
When we ask about Diarrhoea, the second biggest killer for India's children, mothers point us towards a festering garbage dump that's on their doorstep and a nala (drain) that borders their homes on the other side.
One of the most horrific estimates is that 1,000 Indian children die every day because of diarrhoea, which is completely preventable.
"Communities should be encouraged to wash your hands with soap, specifically before the mother prepares the food. This is even more important than washing your hands before you eat the food," said Dr Henri of UNICEF.
That's yet another example of India failing her children.
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