Shimla: One-fourth of Himachal’s children are malnourished—not due to poverty, but because of wrong feeding and eating practices prevalent among young people and even lactating mothers.
Climate change and the rising drug menace are the other two big challenges impacting the state's human development index (HDI) in a big way.
More often than not, state government and its Babudom talk about these three challenges in workshops, but nothing is put on the ground zero for action, taking on these challenges head-on. Will this workshop see the light of the day?
Experts flagged these issues at a workshop on the "State Human Development Report in a Changing Climate" held at HHH Shimla on February 20, 2025.
The workshop was chaired by Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena and supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Saxena didn't mince words. "It's surprising that despite being a well-off state, 25% of our young population doesn't meet health parameters.
The issue isn't a lack of food but a lack of awareness.
Mothers aren't aware of proper breastfeeding techniques, and once children shift to supplementary food, many are fed processed items," he said.
Saxena stressed that this problem needs to become a public issue. "We need mass movements and open debates. Till climate change and drugs become part of political discourse, we won’t see real change," he added.
On the rising drug menace, Saxena said, "We can't rely solely on police action. Catching charas or other drugs won't solve the problem.
We need rehabilitation programs to ensure our children don't turn into criminals." He hinted that the upcoming budget may focus more on tackling this issue.
Highlighting climate change, Saxena said, "Rising temperatures are impacting our agriculture, water resources, biodiversity, tourism, and infrastructure. Our development policies must now focus on climate resilience, skill development, and economic growth with social inclusion."
Dr. Mishra from UNDP explained the Human Development Index (HDI), which measures progress beyond just GDP.
"HDI focuses on three aspects—income, education, and life expectancy. Our goal is to capture how climate change is impacting these areas in Himachal," she said.
IAS officer D.C. Rana, Member Secretary of the workshop, emphasized collaboration.
"This report won’t be just expert opinions. It’ll reflect the experiences and challenges of stakeholders from different sectors. We're gathering best practices and strategies to tackle climate change and improve human development in the state," he said.
The workshop featured cross-sector dialogues, group discussions, and data-sharing sessions aimed at strengthening the state's Human Development Report.
Himachal needs to act fast and collectively—turning these challenges into a public movement rather than mere academic discussions at workshops.
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