(a) whether the Government has taken note/cognizance of the report of Food and Agriculture
Organization(FAO) wherein twenty percent of the country’s population is reported to be malnourished;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto; and
(c) the appropriate steps taken or proposed to be taken by the Government to address the problem
of malnutrition in the country?
MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI KRISHNA TIRATH)
(a): We are not aware if the number quoted is reported in any recent FAO report. In 2012 FAO “the
State of Food Insecurity in the World 2012†report indicates that 17.5 percent of India’s population
was estimated to be undernourished in 2010-2012. (down from 19.0 percent in 2007-2009 and 20.9 percent
in 2004-2006)
(b): According to “the State of Food Insecurity in the World 2012†report, there is a reduction of
34.9 percent in prevalence of undernourishment form 1990-1992 to 2010-2012 (down from 26.9 percent in
1990-1992 and 17.5 percent in 2010-2012)
The problem of malnutrition is complex, multi-dimensional and inter-generational in nature and cannot
be improved by a single sector alone. The approach to deal with the nutrition challenges has been two
pronged: First is the Multi-sectoral approach for accelerated action on the determinants of malnutrition
in targeting nutrition in schemes/programmes of all the sectors. The second approach is the direct and
specific interventions targeted towards the vulnerable groups such as children below 6 years, adolescent
girls, pregnant and lactating mothers.
(c): The Government is implementing several schemes/programmes of different Ministries/Departments
through State Governments/UT Administrations. The schemes/programmes include the Integrated Child
Development Services (ICDS), National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), Mid-Day Meal Scheme(MDM), Rajiv
Gandhi Schemes for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (RGSEAG) namely SABLA, Indira Gandhi
MatritvaSahyogYojna (IGMSY) as direct targeted interventions. Besides, indirect Multi-sectoral
interventions include Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), National Horticulture Mission,
National Food Security Mission, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS),
Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan, National Rural Drinking Water Programme etc. Several of the schemes namely,
ICDS, NRHM, MDM, SGSY have been expanded post 2005-06. All these schemes have potential to address
one or other aspect of Nutrition.
Nutrition has been receiving attention at the highest levels. Recent decisions of Government inter
alia, include(i) strengthening and restructuring of the ICDS with special focus on pregnant and
lactating mothers and children under three.(ii) a multi-sectoral programme to address the
maternal and child malnutrition in selected 200 high-burden districts.(iii) A nationwide information,
education and communication campaign(iv) bringing in strong nutrition focus in Ministries dealing
with Health, Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation, School Education, Agriculture and Food & Public
Distribution. (v) programmes such as the ICDS and Midday meal shall use iron fortified iodized
salt (Double fortified salt).
The main schemes/programmes of Ministry of Women and Child Development which have a bearing on the
nutritional status includes the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme which provides
a package of six services namely supplementary nutrition, pre-school non-formal education, nutrition
& health education, immunization, health check-up and referral services. ICDS Scheme has since been
niversalized with effect from 2008-09.
Recently Government has approved the strengthening and restructuring of ICDS with special focus on
pregnant and lactating mothers and children under three. The restructured and strengthened ICDS has
been rolled out in three phases with focus on the 200 high burden districts for malnutrition during
2012-13 and additional 200 districts in 2013-14 including districts from the special category States
and North Eastern Region( NER) and the remaining districts in 2014-15.
Additionally, Government has launched an Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Campaign
against malnutrition for generating awareness on key nutrition issues with effect from 28th December,
2012.
The proposed National Food Security Bill, introduced in the Lok Sabha will also contribute towards food
security. Government has also announced a pilot programme on Nutri-Farms for introducing new crop varieties
that are rich in micro-nutrients such as iron-rich bajra, protein-rich maize and zinc-rich wheat.