(a) whether any survey has been conducted by the National Nutrition
Monitoring Bureau regarding nutrition in women and children in the country;
(b) if so, the details and the outcome thereof; and
(c) the steps taken by the Government in the light of said survey?
THE MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI KRISHNA TIRATH)
(a) to (c): During the year 2004-05, National Nutrition Monitoring
Bureau (NNMB) carried out the ‘Diet and Nutrtional status of Population
and Prevalence of Hypertension amongst Adults in Rural Areas’ in 9 States
viz, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Kerala, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra,
Orissa, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. The villages covered by NSSO for its 54th
round Consumer Expenditure Surveys, formed the sample frame. In addition
to routine diet and nutrition assessment, prevalence of obesity, hypertension
and diabetes mellitus(Andhra Pradesh only) and hemoglobin were also assessed.
The investigations included demographic and socio-economic particulars
of the households, nutritional anthropometry, clinical examination,
assessment of food and nutrient intake, morbidity, blood pressure,
fasting blood glucose and hemoglobin levels.
As per this NNMB report (2006), prevalence of underweight, stunting
and wasting, according to revised WHO Child Growth Standards among
preschool children (0-60 months) was 40%, 45% and 20% respectively.
The prevalence of overweight/obesity was about 2.5%. Amongst women,
the prevalence of Chronic Energy Deficiency (CED) (assessed as BMI
below 18.5) is 36% and overweight as 10.9%.
Taking into consideration the above report, the nutritional norms
for supplementary nutrition under the Integrated Child Development
Services (ICDS) Scheme have been revised from 24th February 2009.
Since the problem of malnutrition is complex, multi-dimensional and
inter-generational in nature, the approach to dealing with the nutrition
challenges has been two pronged: Multi-sectoral approach for
accelerated action on the determinants of malnutrition in targeting
nutrition in schemes/programmes of all the sectors. As the multi-sectoral
approach takes some time to show results and when implemented together,
have a trickle down and horizontal effect to benefit the population over
a period of time, other part of the approach is direct and specific
interventions targeted towards the vulnerable groups such as children
below 6 years, adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating mothers.
The Government has accorded high priority to the issue of
malnutrition and is implementing several schemes/programmes of different
Ministries/Departments through State Governments/UT Administrations. The
schemes/programmes include the Integrated Child Development Services
(ICDS) Scheme, National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), Mid Day Meal Scheme,
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), Total Sanitation Campaign, National Rural
Drinking Water Programme etc. All these schemes have potential to address
one or other aspect of Nutrition. Several of the existing schemes/programmes
have been expanded / universalized just before or during the Eleventh
Five year Plan.