(a) whether ten to twelve per cent children in the country fall under the category of
acute malnutrition despite various schemes being run by the Government in this regard;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(c) whether the Government has constituted any task force in this regard; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI KRISHNA TIRATH)
(a) & (b): As per the National Family Health Survey-3 (NFHS-3), 2005-06, the percentage of
acute malnourished (weight-for- height) children under 5 years is 19.8 % in whole of the country.
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) & (d): Government has given top priority to address malnutrition. Prime Minister’s National
Council on India’s Nutrition Challenges has been constituted in 2008 for policy directions, review
and effective coordination between Ministries for tackling malnutrition at the Central level. No task
force has been constituted specially for addressing acute malnutrition.
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 Matritva Sahyog Yojna (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.