Question : Malnutrition among Women and Children

(a) the number of women and children suffering from malnutrition in the country, particularly in tribal, rural and backward/hilly areas along with the number of deaths caused therefrom, State/UT-wise along with the reasons therefor;

(b) whether India tops the list in respect of number of women and children suffering from malnutrition in comparison to other countries and if so, the details thereof;

(c) the details of schemes implemented by the Government to tackle the problem of malnutrition along with the funds allocated/released and utilised thereunder during each of the last three years and the current year, scheme and State/UT-wise;

(d) whether the schemes have made any impact in the reduction of malnutrition among women and children in the country during the said period and if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise; and

(e) the further measures taken by the Government to make the country free from malnutrition?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(Dr. VIRENDRA KUMAR)

(a) As per the recent report of National Family Health Survey (NFHS) – 4 conducted by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 2015-16, 35.7% children under 5 years of age are underweight and 38.4% are stunted indicating a reduction from the previous NFHS – 3 conducted in 2005-06, which reported 42.5% children under 5 years of age as underweight and 48% stunted. Further, 22.9% women (15-49 years of age) have chronic energy deficiency (BMI less than 18.5) which is a decline from the previous NFHS-3 levels which reported 35.5% women having chronic energy deficiency. The State-wise details are at Annexure-I.

Malnutrition is not a direct cause of death but contributes to mortality and morbidity by reducing resistance to infections. There are a number of causes of death of children such as prematurity, low birth weight, pneumonia, diarrhoeal diseases, non-communicable diseases, birth asphyxia & birth trauma, injuries, congenital anomalies, acute bacterial sepsis and severe infections, etc.

(b) India ranked 114th among the 132 countries in terms of stunting prevalence in children (under 5 years) as per Global Nutrition Report 2016.

(c) Government is implementing several schemes and programs like Anganwadi Services, Scheme for Adolescent Girls and Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojna under the Umbrella Integrated Child Development Services Scheme as direct targeted interventions to address the problem of malnutrition in the country. All these schemes address one or other aspects related to nutrition and have the potential to improve nutritional outcomes in the country. The State-wise funds allocated and utilized under each of the schemes during the last three years and the current year are at Annexure-II, III and IV.

(d) As a result of these concerted efforts of the Government, the level of malnutrition among women and children has reduced in the country as is evident from the recent report of National Family Health Survey (NFHS) – 4, 2015-16, which shows reduction from the previous NFHS-3 levels.

(e) Apart from the existing schemes aimed at reduction in the levels of malnutrition among women and child, recently, the Government has set up National Nutrition Mission (NNM) for improving the nutritional indicators of children and pregnant women and lactating mothers. The Mission aims to prevent and reduce prevalence of stunting among children (0-6 years) in the country by 6%, undernutrition (underweight) prevalence among children (0-6 years) by 6%, prevalence of anaemia among children (6-59 m) by 9%, prevalence of anaemia among women (15-49 years) by 9% and reduction in prevalence of low birth weight by 6%. The Goals set under the mission will be achieved by ensuring convergence with various programmes; incentivizing States/ UTs; IT enabled Real Time Monitoring (ICT-RTM) by using Smart Phones and Tablets; Evaluation; Community mobilisation awareness advocacy; IEC, Online Course on Nutrition for Children, Nutrition message from folk songs and songs on WASH, and strengthening human resource, etc.

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