Question : Status of Women and Children suffering from Anaemia

a) current status of women and child suffering from Anaemia in our country;
b) whether the percentage of Anaemia in women and child increased in the country during the last five years, State/UT-wise details thereof;
c) whether the Government has taken any action in this regard, if so, the details thereof and if not the reasons therefor;
d) whether it is a fact that the health of women and children is a matter of concern for the Government as more than half of them are anaemic and a major part of them are suffering from malnutrition;
e) whether as per the National Family Survey-5, the Status of anaemia among girls has actually increased to 59 percent in 2019-21 as compared to 54 percent in 2015-16; and
f) whether most of the household chores are done by women and they face the threat tropical diseases like lymphatic filariasis and often they do not even get timely health care and remain subjected to the wishes of their husbands or guardian and if so, the details thereof in this regard?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
(DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)


(a) to (e) As per data from National Family Health Survey 5, 67.1% under five children, 59.1% adolescent girls (15-19 years),57.0 % women aged 15-49 years and 52.2% of pregnant women are suffering from anaemia in our country. State/UT-wise prevalence of anaemia in under five children, adolescent girls(15-19 years),women aged 15-49 years and pregnant women as per National Family Health Survey (NFHS 4 and 5) are placed at Annexure.
As per NFHS 5, 32.1% of under five children are underweight.
The Government of India has launched the Anemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) - 6x6x6 strategy which implies six age groups, six interventions and six institutional mechanisms. The strategy focuses on ensuring supply chain, demand generation and strong monitoring using the dashboard for addressing anaemia, both due to nutritional and non-nutritional causes.
• The Six target groups are: i) children 6-59 months, ii) children 5-9 years, iii) adolescent girls and boys aged 10-19 years, iv) women in reproductive age (15- 49 years), v) pregnant women and vi) lactating women.
• The six interventions under AMB strategy are : i) Prophylactic Iron and Folic Acid supplementation, ii) Deworming, iii) Intensified year-round Behaviour Change Communication Campaign, iv) Test and treat using digital method & point of care , v) Provision of Iron and Folic Acid fortified foods in public health programmes, vi) Addressing non-nutritional causes of anemia.
• The six institutional mechanisms include: i) Intra-ministerial coordination, ii) National Anemia Mukt Bharat Unit, iii) National Centre of Excellence and Advanced Research on Anemia Control, iv) Convergence with other ministries, v) Strengthening supply chain and logistics vi) Anemia Mukt Bharat Dashboard and Digital Portal.

Operational guidelines, training and social behavior change communication (SBCC) material have been developed and shared with the States & UTs for effective implementation of this strategy. All the States and UTs have initiated activities regarding implementation of AMB namely prophylactic Iron folic acid supplementation, identification of anaemic cases, referral & treatment.

Under National Health Mission, financial support is provided to the States and UTs for effective implementation of interventions under AMB strategy based on proposals submitted through their respective annual Programme Implementation Plan (PIP). Sufficient funds are made available to the States/UTs for carrying out activities pertaining to reduction of anaemia.

(f) Lymphatic Filariasis is a vector borne disease endemic in 328 districts of 20 States /Union Territories. The control of Lymphatic Filariasis is implemented through the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme.

• The Government of India has taken various initiatives to ensure empowerment of women and girls through their social, educational, economic and political upliftment. Various schemes and programmes are implemented by the Government to make them self-reliant and minimize their dependency on others, such as Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY),Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) Scheme,One Stop Centre (OSC) and Universalisation of Women Helpline, Swadhar Greh Scheme,Ujjawala Scheme,Mahila Shakti Kendra (MSK).
• The Government of India has also decided to implement the Umbrella Scheme for Safety, Security and Empowerment of Women as an integrated women empowerment program under the name ‘Mission Shakti’, for addressing the issues of women on a life-cycle continuum basis and for making them equal partners in nation-building through convergence at different levels of governance and a participative approach.