The poison within: how environmental contamination is impacting our children’s future

The Poison Within got its title from the idea that environmental deterioration and contamination originates from our conscious behaviour and decisions as a society, rather than from external sources. In other words, the title suggests taking responsibility for our actions, irresponsible towards the future generations. The poison, the problem, comes from within. Our manual informs you about the impact of poor environmental quality on the health of children, with a special focus on India. It examines data related to a range of pollution, from contaminated water to toxic chemicals, to build a case for severe damage to children’s health. However, it is not alarmist in tone or intent. Chintan’s objective is to build a public understanding of the linkages between environment and health and the impact on children. Reading this manual may require more concentration than a glossy, but we’ve consciously not dumbed it down, because we believe protecting our Gen Next is serious business and you should have the option to learn about it optimally. We offer straightforward solutions only when these make sense. Often, solutions are not easy and require broad policy shifts, which we indicate in passing. Our aim is not to spoon-feed our readers, but to goad them into thinking harder about the issue and join us in seeking solutions that work.