In his paper Arvind Panagariya argues that the current World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended international growth standards exaggerate the extent of stunting in India. He points out that while the prevalence of stunting by current norms is higher in India than many poorer Sub-Saharan African countries, it has much lower mortality rates than them and a better record of economic growth. He deals his cards deftly, giving examples of Japan, Singapore, the US, Germany, Netherlands, Chad, Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa. In short, countries from all corners of the world, and data on heights, all in pursuit of just one agenda to say India’s figures for malnutrition cannot be so high.
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