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Abstract
Poverty in Tamil Nadu multidimensional concept refers to lack of access to the basic needs of food, shelter, security, education, health services, safe drinking water, and sanitation for a decent, normal and effective existence. Conventional measures of poverty, however, are narrowly defined making reference to a poverty line based on income thresholds consistent with a certain level of consumption of food. Poverty is a major area of concern. Although the State has been successful in reducing poverty (measured by the head-count ratio) Rural poverty in Tamil Nadu as measured by Head Count Ratio (HCR) was about 15.8 percent in 2011-12. It fell from 37.5 percent in 2004-05- rural Tamil Nadu was lower than the corresponding ratio at all India, wherein the reduction in the poverty ratio was from 42.0 percent in 2004-05 to 25.7 percent in 2011-12 . National Family Health Survey-III (2005-06) throws light on the nutritional With regard to the nutritional status of the children, 29.8 percent of the children below five years in the State were having underweight. It was comparatively lower than all India as well as Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. 30.9 percent of the children were having stunted growth in the State as compared to48 percent at all India. Among the southern States the ratio was the lowest in Kerala. 22.2 percent of children in Tamil Nadu were with wasted growth. The proportion was higher than all India as well as the three neighboring southern States. Among 6-59 months children 64.2 percent were anemic in Tamil Nadu and it stood second lowest among the southern States, the first being Kerala with 44.5 percent.. The study high lights Rural poverty and Child nutritional status in Tamil Nadu. Key words: Poverty , Tamil Nadu, Child, Nutritional Status