Passage

Open defecation is disastrous when practiced in very densely populated areas, when it is impossible to keep away human feces from crops, wells, food, and children’s hands. Groundwater is also contaminated by open defecation. Many ingested germs and worms spread diseases. They prevent the body from absorbing calories and nutrients. Nearly one-half of India’s children remain malnourished. Lakhs of them die from preventable conditions. Diarrhea leaves Indian bodies smaller on average than those of people in some poorer countries where people eat fewer calories. Underweight mothers produce stunted babies prone to sickness who may fail to develop their full cognitive potential. The germs released into the environment harm rich and poor alike, even those who use latrines.

Question

CSATEasyPrelims 2015Comprehension

Which among the following is the most critical inference that can be made from the above passage?

Explanation

Statement A is incorrect. The passage does not discuss the availability of resources or the financial capability of the government. It focuses on the harmful effects of open defecation, not the economic resources for building latrines.

Statement B is incorrect. While the passage mentions that open defecation is disastrous for public health, it does not explicitly claim that it is the "most important" public health problem. It highlights its severe consequences, but the passage does not compare it to other health issues in India.

Statement C is correct. The passage points out that the consequences of open defecation, such as malnutrition and stunting in children, lead to reduced cognitive potential and health, which in turn affects the workforce's overall productivity and human capital.

Statement D is incorrect. The passage specifically talks about India and its public health issues caused by open defecation. It does not generalize to all developing countries, although it acknowledges similar problems in some other poorer countries.