Last updated December 2010
Author:
Monica Jain
Abstract:
India is home to the largest malnourished child population in the world, with around 80 million children. India’s
flagship program and the only national program for combating malnutrition of children is the Integrated Child
Development Scheme (ICDS). My current research takes advantage of data from the 2005 to 2006 National Family
Health Survey on ICDS, which for the first time provides nationwide data on usage of ICDS services at the child level,
to look at the impact of its Supplementary Nutrition Program on children’s growth. In addition to the adverse health
effects that malnourished children experience, they also increase the burden of caregivers. I will also analyze the
effects of increased costs to child care on the labor supply of women and the educational attainment of older female
children (absentee mothers).
Contact Information:
Monica Jain,
mjain001@ucr.edu, University of California, Riverside