Calorie Undernourishment, Health Infrastructure and Level of Income Among Major Indian States: An Empirical Exploration of Interlinkages

Abstract: In this paper, an attempt has been made to probe as to how health infrastructure andincome influence the extent of calorie undernourishment among major Indian states. The extentwas measured through Foster-Greer-Thorbecke (FGT) index with α = 2. Primary dimensions ofhealth infrastructure were identified through exploratory factor analysis taking into considerationdifferent indicators that were used in three rounds of surveys carried out by the NationalSample Survey Office (NSSO). Within each of urban and rural regions, mean levels of calorieundernourishment were observed to be grossly different, both temporally and cross-sectionally.Further, the states have undergone major temporal reshuffling with respect to the status ofhealth infrastructure. Interlinkages between calorie undernourishment, health infrastructureand per capita income were examined through panel data regression analysis. Diagrammaticalexposition of strength of the interlinkages was obtained via path analysis. Analytical findings aresuggestive of a dire need for strengthening of health infrastructure, particularly in respect ofprimary and community health centres.