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Gauri Kartini Shastry
Gauri Kartini Shastry is Assistant Professor of Economics at Wellesley College. Her research interests are in development economics, public economics and labour economics. She holds a Ph.D. and A.M. in Economics from Harvard University, and A.B. with honors in Economics and Mathematics from Brown University.
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Water quality awareness and behaviour change
Universal access to clean water is far from a reality in many developing countries. This column examines a nationwide information campaign that attempted to minimise the use of arsenic-contaminated tubewells in Bangladesh. It finds that mothers in arsenic-contaminated areas are more likely to exclusively breastfeed their children, and breastfeed for longer after the campaign - likely out of concern for child well-being. It also finds that infant health improves.
Elucidating avenues for corruption: Micronutrient fortification strategies in India’s Midday Meals Programme
Globally, iron deficiency is a leading cause of anaemia, a condition that is particularly harmful during early childhood, causing fatigue and slower physical and cognitive development with potentially long-lasting effects. The problem is especially acute in India, where 58.4% of children aged 6-59 months are anaemic.