It showed that while most children up to age 8 were within normal parameters, children between 9 and 15 were almost all underweight and underheight for their age, although anaemia was not a problem. Dr Rao suspects that after a certain age parents simply let the children look after themselves, and that there is also psychological neglect. What is more, in most villages, girls were more undernourished than boys. This period of early adolescence is of prime importance, and there is evidence that these children are suffering both physical and psychological deprivation. He points out that maternal and child health programmes tend to concentrate on infants and under-fives, ignoring older children.
Girls only become of interest to the system again when they become pregnant.
Yet the pre-adolescent formative period is very important for the rest of their lives. This situation is unlikely to be confined to this area of Maharashtra. Similar results would probably be found in most parts of India, but few studies of this kind have been done because the health of this age group has not been seen as a priority. As in most rural areas, there is still high illiteracy, especially among women - although today virtually all girls attend school till age 15. This makes it essential for proper information to be given right from the start and in an accessible format.