National Clean Air Programme

WHAT INDIA MUST LEARN FROM CHINA'S ANTI-POLLUTION STRATEGY

India’s air pollution crisis echoes China’s 2010s airpocalypse. China cut particulate pollution by 40.8% (2013–23) via political will, clean-tech investment, coal transition, and strict enforcement. India can adapt mission-mode action and regional airshed management to strengthen the National Clean Air Programme within a democratic framework.

POLLUTION CRISIS IS A SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUE

India's pollution crisis is a social justice issue because marginalized communities are disproportionately affected. Current policies, like the National Clean Air Programme, lack a strong focus on equity. Achieving environmental justice, as mandated by Article 21, requires implementing an inclusive, community-driven strategy.

AIR POLLUTION & CHILD HEALTH : A GROWING CONCERN IN INDIA

Air pollution in India significantly impacts children’s growth, leading to stunted physical development, respiratory problems, and cognitive impairments. Studies from Delhi-NCR, Punjab, and Vidarbha show that prolonged exposure to fine particulate matter and toxic air pollutants reduces height and lung capacity in children under five. Effective government measures and community-level interventions are crucial to protect children’s health and ensure equitable development.

CHILDHOOD VULNERABILITY TO PM2.5: CHALLENGES, MEASURES, & THE WAY FORWARD

Short-term exposure to PM2.5, especially from landscape fires and urban pollution, significantly increases hospital admissions among children and adolescents for respiratory, infectious, cardiovascular, neurological, digestive, and other illnesses. Children aged 5–9 years and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are particularly vulnerable.

India has implemented measures like the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), air quality monitoring, and crop residue management to reduce PM2.5 exposure. However, challenges persist due to high ambient pollution, indoor smoke, socioeconomic disparities, and gaps in awareness.

A multi-pronged approach involving regulation, clean energy adoption, indoor air quality improvement, public awareness, and child-specific protective measures is essential to safeguard children’s health and reduce the long-term impacts of air pollution.