Parliament Question: Air pollution risk to child health

GOVERNMENT OFINDIA MINISTRYOFHEALTHAND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENT OFHEALTHAND FAMILYWELFARE RAJYASABHA UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 2844 TOBE ANSWERED ON17.03.2026 AIR POLLUTION RISK TOCHILD HEALTH 2844.DR. FAUZIAKHAN: Will theMinisterof HEALTHAND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:- (a) whether the Ministry is aware that sustained high levels of air pollution across most of India pose a silent nationalhealthcrisis, with long-term risks tochildhealth; (b) if so, whether the Ministry plans to launch targeted preventive programmes, advisory systems and awareness campaigns to minimize children’s exposure to hazardous air and to strengthen surveillance on pollution-relatedmorbidities; and (c)if so, the detailsthereof andif not,the reasons therefor? ANSWER THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE (SHRIPRATAPRAOJADHAV) (a):Airpollutionisoneofthefactorsaffectingrespiratoryailmentsandassociateddiseases.Healthisimpacted by several factors, including food habits, occupational habits, socio- economic status, medical history, immunity,heredity,etc.,oftheindividualsincludingchildrenapartfromtheenvironment. (b) & (c): Government of India has taken several steps to address air pollution issues which are placed at Annexure. ******ANNEXURE Government of India has taken several steps to address air pollution issues across the country. These include: 1. Implementation of National Programme for Climate Change and Human Health (NPCCHH) with an 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. The details of the programmeareasbelow: i. Under NPCCHH, the Government of India has developed “Health Adaptation Plan” on health issues due toAirPollution. ii. It has also developed “State Action Plan” on climate change & human health for all 36 State/UTs. This State specific Action Plan contains dedicated chapter on air pollution which suggests interventions to reducetheimpact. iii. Ministry of Health & Family Welfare issues public health advisories to State/UTs suggesting ways to reducetheimpactofairpollution. iv. Nationwide public awareness campaigns are organized in coordination with States annually for World Environment Day (5th June), International Day of Clean Air for blue skies (7th September) and National PollutionControlDay(2ndDecember). v. Dedicated training modules have been developed in area of air pollution for Programme Managers, Medical Officers & Nurses, Nodal Officers sentinel sites, frontline workers like Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA), vulnerable groups like women & children, occupationally exposed groups like traffic police,municipalworkersetc. vi. InformationEducation communication(IEC)material hasbeendeveloped targetingairpollution related illnesses in both English, Hindi and regional languages. Government of India has also developed customized IEC materials focusing various vulnerable groups such as school children, women, occupational vulnerablegroupslikeMunicipalityworkers, etc. vii. Series of national level capacity building workshops have been conducted annually to prepare Master Trainers (State level Trainers) who can cascade down the training at State/District level in the area of air pollutionrelatedillnessesandsurveillance. viii. Early warning system/alerts for air pollution as well as air quality forecasts are disseminated from Indian Meteorological Department to States and cities to prepare the health sector as well as community includingvulnerablepopulation. 2. Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) aims to safeguard the health of women & children by providingthemwitha cleancookingfuel,LiquidPetroleum Gas(LPG). 3. Swachh Bharat Missionaimsto clean up streets, roads andinfrastructure ofIndia’scities,smaller towns, andruralareas.SwachhHavaisanintegral componentofSwachhBharat. 4. Ministry of Environment, Forest andClimate Change has launchedNational Clean AirProgram in 2019 asa nationallevel strategytoreduceairpollutionlevelsacrossthecountry.