Context: The India child well-being index has been released by the non government organisation World Vision India and research institute IFMR LEAD.

About the index:

1. The child well-being index, a tool designed to measure and tracks children’s well-being comprehensively.
2. This report provides insights on health, nutrition, education, sanitation and child protection. 
3. The dimensions of the index include healthy individual development, positive relationships and protective contexts.
4. It is a crucial report that can be mined both by the Government and civil organisations to achieve the goal of child well-being.
5. One of the primary objectives of this index is to garner attention to the under-researched theme of child well-being in India, and inspire further academic and policy conversations on related issues.

Key findings of the report:

1. Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh and Puducherry topped the charts.
2. Meghalaya, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh featured at the bottom.
3. The data shows that even states that are performing best in overall child well-being, are not doing so well in indicators of health.

Challenges present:

In terms of health, it has to be ensured that the child is taken care of in the first 1,000 days of life. Stunting is a big issue in India and this is linked to poor sanitation and lack of safe water.

Need of the hour:

States should look at their respective scores on the dimensions of child well-being, and prepare for priority areas of intervention with specific plans of action.

This should also trigger policy level changes, seek better budgetary allocations and initiate discussions with all stakeholders, which can help in enhancing the quality of life of all children in the country.

Way ahead:

Children have the potential to transform the country, but if neglected, they will exacerbate the burden of poverty and inequality. It is imperative that all stakeholders prioritise and invest in the well-being of our children.

Add-on information:

1. India ranks 113 of 176 countries on the End of Childhood Index. It is part of the Global Childhood Report released by Save the Children, a nonprofit that works for child rights.