Plan, a child aid organization, released a new 55-page report, Growing up in Asia, stating, “Despite Asia’s booming economy 600 million children—almost half the region’s 1.25 billion under-18s—are severely deprived of basic needs such as food, healthcare and shelter…And over 350 million Asian children live in absolute poverty…”

The reason given is that half of Asia’s families are not benefiting from economic growth and globalization, largely due to the pressure of population growth on scarce resources; lack of access to education, healthcare, clean water and sanitation; caste discrimination and dominance by social elites; and weak governments and corruption.

About 80% of India’s 400 million youth are considered “severely deprived”; 60% are “absolutely poor”; almost half of those under five are malnourished.

Source: Plan; BBC News