H man Development in ndia 20.17
is reflected by the inverse relationship The contribution of air pollution to
between life expectancy and DALYs rates. disease burden remained high in India
The per person disease burden measured as between 1990 (11.1 per cent) and 2016
DALYs rate dropped by 36 per cent from (9.8 per cent), with the levels of exposure
1990 to 2016 in India, after adjusting remaining among the highest in the
for the changes in the population age world. It causes burden through a mix
structure during this period. of noncommunicable and infectious
Of the total disease burden in India diseases, mainly cardiovascular diseases,
measured as DALYs, 61 per cent was due chronic respiratory diseases, and lower
to communicable, maternal, neonatal, respiratory infections. The burden of
and nutritional diseases (CMNNDs) in household air pollution related to use of
1990, which dropped to 33 per cent in solid fuels for cooking is being addressed
2016. with government interventions through
There was a corresponding increase in schemes like Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala
the contribution of non-communicable Yojana.
diseases (NCDs) from 30 per cent of the The behavioural and metabolic risk factors
total disease burden in 1990 to 55 per associated with the rising burden of Non
cent in 2016, and of injuries from 9 per Communicable Diseases (NCDs) have
cent to 12 per cent. become quite prominent in India. In
The risk factors are drivers of diseases 2016, the dietary risks, which include
and injuries causing premature death diets low in fruit, vegetables, and whole
and disability. The disease burden in grains, but high in salt and fat, were
India can be reduced substantially, if India’s third leading risk factor, followed
the risk factors related to health loss are closely by high blood pressure and high
addressed effectively. The use of DALYs blood sugar (high fasting plasma glucose).
to track disease burden has also been Unsafe water, sanitation, and handwashing
recommended by India’s National Health (WaSH) was the second leading risk factor
Policy of 2017. in 1990, but its ranking has dropped to
In 2016, malnutrition still remained the seventh position in 2016. Around 5 per
most important risk factor (14.6 percent) cent of health loss is still attributable
that results in disease burden in the to this factor which is being addressed
country though the disease burden due to successfully by the government through
it has dropped in India substantially since the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM).
1990. Situation of States is also similar—
Neonatal disorders and nutritional States with higher life expectancy are
deficiencies as well as diarrhoea, lower reflecting lower DALYs rates means
respiratory infections, and other common lower incidence of diseases and vice-
infections are manifestation of maternal versa. Though, there have been dramatic
and child malnutrition. fall in CMNNDs, however, States with