MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI KRISHNA TIRATH)
(a): Data on the number of deaths due to malnutrition in the country is not maintained
centrally. However, as per the survey on ‘Causes of Death – 2001-03 in India’ by Registrar
General of India, nutritional deficiencies are responsible for only 2.8% death of children
aged 0-4 years and 1.8% in the age group 5-14 years. Some of the major causes of death of
children below 4 years are perinatal conditions (33%), respiratory infections (22%), diarrheal
diseases (14%), other infections and parasitic diseases (11%), accounting for 80% of the deaths
in this age group. Malnutrition is not a direct cause of death but contributes to increased
morbidity and mortality by reducing resistance to infections.
(b) & (c): National Commission for Protection of Child Rights NCPCR has not conducted any
specific study on malnutrition deaths of children in the country and therefore question of
findings does not arise.
(d) & (e): Assistance from International organizations are taken as per approved country
Programme documents and action plans or against approved projects as per need and approvals.
(f): As per the National Family Health Survey-3 (NFHS-3), prevalence of underweight has
declined from 42.7% in 1998-99 (NFHS-2) to 40.4% in 2005-06 (NFHS-3) for children below 3
years of age.
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 in the country
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), 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 proposed National Food Security Bill, introduced in the Lok Sabha will also contribute towards
food security. Government has 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.
