(a) whether more than 70 percent poor women and girls in rural areas of the country particularly pregnant women are suffering from anemia;
(b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise;
(c) whether anemia has emerged as a silent killer among the poor women particularly in rural India;
(d) if so, the details thereof alongwith the reasons therefor; and
(e) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard?
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. ANBUMANI RAMADOSS)
(a)to(e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 285 FOR 23RD MARCH, 2005
According to National Family Health Survey (NFHS) - II, 51.8% of ever married women (15-49 years)
were found to have anemia. 35% had mild anemia; 14.8% moderate anemia and 1.9% severe anemia.
Among the anemic women, 54% were in rural areas. The state-wise details showing prevalence of
anemia are annexed. The problem of anemia is more among pregnant women. According to the survey
conducted by the National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau of ICMR in 2002, 4% pregnant women were
found to have severe anemia.
According to the estimates of Registrar General of India based on Sample Registration System,
1998 (SRS), nutritional anemia contributes to 19% of maternal deaths. The requirements of iron
and folic acid become 6 times greater among pregnant women than non-pregnant women. The major
causes of nutritional anemia are inadequate nutrition with deficient intake of iron and folic
acid in diet, inadequate absorption of iron, frequent pregnancies, high prevalence of infections
and infestations and faulty feeding practices.
Iron deficiency is a problem of inadequate nutrition. A National Nutritional Policy was
formulated in 1993 and the national plan of action on nutrition is being implemented through a
number of Departments of Government of India including, among other, the Integrated Child
Development Services Programme of Department of Women and Child Development and the Reproductive
and Child Health Programme of the Department of Family Welfare for improving the nutritional
status of pregnant women and children.
Apart from health related factors illiteracy, poverty, general economic and social development
have a direct bearing on the incidence of anemia among people, particularly among women. To
tackle these problems, various departments of the Government are implementing programmes such
as Nutrition education of the community in rural, urban and tribal areas by the Food and
Nutrition Board of the Department of Women and Child Development with a view to create awareness
about the consequences of anaemia, promote the locally available foods rich in iron and on
folic acid and how to prevent and control anaemia.
The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme of the Department of WCD provides
supplementary food to the pregnant women/nursing mothers to the extent of 500 calories and
15-20 g protein per day. Nutrition and health education of all women with special emphasis on
pregnant and lactating women is also undertaken by the anganwadi worker.
Various food for work programmes, poverty alleviation programmes, targeted public distribution
system contribute to improving food security for the rural population.
Research trials on double fortified salt have also been undertaken by the National Institute of
Nutrition, Hyderabad, to address the problem of nutritional anemia in the country. Jawahar
Rojgar Yojana, Integrated Rural Development Programme, Indira Awas Yojana and Adult Literacy
Programme are being launched by different agencies/departments of Government of India.
ANNEXURE
Anemia among women by State
Percentage of ever-married women classified as having iron-deficiency anemia by degree of anemia,
according to State, India, 1998-99
State % of women with Mild Anemia Moderate Anemia Severe Anemia any anemia
India 51.8 35.0 14.8 1.9
Delhi 40.5 29.6 9.6 1.3
Haryana 47.0 30.9 14.5 1.6
H.P. 40.5 31.4 8.4 0.7
J&K 58.7 39.3 17.6 1.9
Punjab 41.4 28.4 12.3 0.7
Rajasthan 48.5 32.3 14.1 2.1
M.P. 54.3 37.6 15.6 1.0
U.P. 48.7 33.5 13.7 1.5
Bihar 63.4 42.9 19.0 1.5
Orissa 63.0 45.1 16.4 1.6
West Bengal 62.7 45.3 15.9 1.5
Arunachal Pr. 62.5 50.6 11.3 0.6
Assam 69.7 43.2 25.6 0.9
Manipur 28.9 21.7 6.3 0.8
Meghalaya 63.3 33.4 27.5 2.4
Mizoram 48.0 35.2 12.1 0.7
Nagaland 38.4 27.8 9.6 1.0
Sikkim 61.1 37.3 21.4 2.4
Goa 36.4 27.3 8.1 1.0
Gujarat 46.3 29.5 14.4 2.5
Maharashtra 48.5 31.5 14.1 2.9
Andhra Pr. 49.8 32.5 14.9 2.4
Karnataka 42.4 26.7 13.4 2.3
Kerala 22.7 19.5 2.7 0.5
Tamil Nadu 56.5 36.7 15.9 3.9