Lok Sabha Question No. 3750 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-11
Subject: Impact of Air Pollution on Children
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Jayadev Galla, Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA

## MINISTRYOF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3750 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.08.2023

## IMPACT OFAIR POLLUTION ON CHILDREN

## 3750. SHRI JAYADEV GALLA: SHRI RAM MOHAN NAIDU KINJARAPU:

Will the Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the impact of air pollution on the cognitive development of children;
- (b) if so, the details of the steps being taken by the Government to mitigate the adverse impact of air pollution on children's cognitive abilities and ensure their healthy growth and development;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to roll out specific guidelines/regulations to protect children from the harmful effects of air pollution, particularly in areas with high pollution levels; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (PROF. SATYA PAL SINGH BAGHEL)

(a) to (d):

Air pollution is one of the aggravating factors for respiratory ailments and associated diseases. Health is impacted by a number of factors which include food habits, occupational habits, medical history, immunity, heredity, etc., of the individuals apart from the environment.

Indian Council of Medical Research in collaboration with Public Health foundation of India (PHFI) & Institute of Health Matrix and Evaluation (IHME) had conducted a study titled "The impact of air pollution on deaths, disease burden and life expectancy across the states of India" [available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(18)30261-4 ].

Government of India has taken several steps to address air pollutions issues. These include:

i. Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) aims to safeguard the health of women & children by providing them with a clean cooking fuel- LPG.

ii. Swachh Bharat Mission to clean up streets, roads and infrastructure of India's cities, smaller towns, and rural areas. SwachhHawa is an integral component of Swachh Bharat.

iii. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has launched National Clean Air program in 2019 as a national level strategy to reduce air pollution levels across the country.

iv. MOHFW has launched National Program on Climate Change and Human Health (NPCCHH) at National Centre for disease Control (NCDC), with objective to create awareness, capacity building, health sector preparedness and response and partnerships related activities on the climate sensitive health issues in the country since 2019. Now the Programme has expanded in all the State/UTs and activities are conducted in the form of training on Climate Sensitive Diseases, Surveillance on Acute Respiratory Illnesses and Heat related Illnesses, generation & dissemination of IEC on Air Pollution & Heat and its health impacts on health which include children. Further, a guidelines on 'Air Pollution and its Impact on Children's Health' have been developed in both Hindi and English under National Programme on Climate Change and Human Health in 2020 and shared with States for its implementation.

v. NCDC under Ministry of Health & Family Welfare issue health advisory every year to the States/UTs to address health concern of the masses including that of children. Several workshop and traning have been conducted for community level health workers on air pollution and its health impact on children's health.

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