Malaria and poverty in India

Malaria is endemic in India and its control has become a formidable task. The Planning Commission of the Government of India estimates that 26.1% of the population of India lives below the poverty line. We have examined during 1999–2000, the status of malaria since 1965 in states below the poverty line. Reduction in poverty to about half since 1970 resulted in improvement in the situation in well-performing states. In contrast, the situation either deteriorated or remained unchanged in states with populations exceeding the national average. Malaria control by chemicals is failing because of its transient nature and the convergence of many inherent technical and financial problems, thus making malaria control more refractory and its treatment enormously expensive. Sustainable control requires that the twin problems of poverty and environment be addressed in a holistic manner.