MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI MANEKA SANJAY GANDHI)
(a) The data of malnutrition is captured under National surveys and as per the last National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-3 (2005-06) carried out by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India, 42.5 per cent of the children under 5 years of age are underweight, 48 per cent are stunted and 19.8 per cent are wasted. 35.6 percent of women in age group of 15-49 years have BMI less than 18.5. As reported by the NFHS - 3 (2005-06), 55.3 percent of all women 15-49 years, 56.2percent of ever married women, 58.7 percent of pregnant women and 78.9 percent of under five children are anaemic in the country. However, data for nutrition indicators has been captured for 21 States/UTs in the recently conducted DLHS – 4 in 2012-13 and reports are available. The state-wise details of malnutrition among children and women as per NFHS-3 and DLHS-4 are at Annexure-1 & 2. Malnutrition is a multi-faceted problem and is not a direct cause of death but contributes to mortality and morbidity by reducing resistance to infections. The causes are inadequate access to food, health services, safe drinking water, sanitation and environmental conditions, educational levels, income and socio-cultural factors like early marriage, etc. Situation is further compounded by ignorance about nutritional needs ofinfants and young children and repeated infections. However, the rate of malnutrition 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.
(b) & (c): This Ministry is implementing Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), Rajiv Gandhi Schemes for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls
(RGSEAG) namely SABLA, Indira Gandhi Matritva SahyogYojna (IGMSY) as direct targeted interventions. #Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme is a centrally sponsored scheme being implemented by all the State Governments/UT Administrations, through Anganwadi Centers, across the country. The scheme aims at holistic development of children below 6 years of age and pregnant and lactating mothers, including rural women and children, by providing a package of services comprising
(i) Supplementary Nutrition
(ii) Pre-school non-formal education
(iii) Nutrition and Health Education
(iv) Immunization
(v) Health check- up and
(vi) Referral services through Anganwadi Centers at grassroots level. # The ‘Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (RGSEAG)–‘Sabla’, a Centrally- sponsored scheme, which aims at all-round development of adolescent girls of 11-18 years by making them ‘self reliant.’ At present, the scheme is being implemented in 205 districts from all the States/UTs. # Indira Gandhi MatritvaSahyogYojana (IGMSY) is a centrally sponsored Conditional Maternity Benefit (CMB) scheme for pregnant and lactating women to improve their health & nutrition status to better enabling environment by providing cash incentives. The scheme is operational in 53 selected districts across the country. In addition, under the National Nutrition Mission, there are two components, namely:
1.Nationwide Information, Education and Communication campaign against malnutrition, which was launched during 2012-13.
2. Multi-sectoral nutrition programme for prevention and reduction in child under-nutrition
(underweight prevalence in children under 3 years of age) and reduction in levels of anaemia among young children, adolescent girls and women in 200 high-burden districts, which has been launched for the 12thFive Year Plan. The funds released by the Government of India during the last three years and the current year for these schemes along with achievements are at Annexure 3 -7. The programme has inbuilt provisions of monitoring and evaluation at the central level.
(d): No cases of irregularities/corruption have come to the notice of the Government during the said period under SABLA and IGMSY. During the last three years and the current year, 85 complaints regarding irregularities/corruption in Supplementary Nutrition Programme under ICDS were received pertaining to the States / UTs. The year-wise details are as under: # 2011-12 - 27 complaints; State wise break-up :
(Andhra Pradesh-1), (Assam-1), (Bihar 1), (Delhi-1),
(Jharkhand 1), (Odisha-3), (Rajasthan 4), (Uttarakhand 1),
(Uttar Pradesh 13), and (Madhya Pradesh 1). # 2012-13 - 25 complaints; State wise break-up :
(Assam-1), (Bihar 2), (Delhi-1), (Jharkhand 1),
(Odisha-1), (Rajasthan 3), (Chhattisgarh 1),
(Haryana 1), (Maharashtra 4), Madhya Pradesh 1) and (Uttar Pradesh 9). # 2013-14 - 5 complaints; State wise break-up :
(Uttar Pradesh 4) and (Manipur 1). # 2014-15 - 28 complaints; State wise break-up
(Uttarakhand 1), (Bihar 2), (Delhi-3 ), (Jharkhand 1), Madhya Pradesh 4 ) and (Uttar Pradesh 17 ). ICDS being a centrally sponsored scheme implemented by all the State Governments/UT Administrations through AnganwadiCentres across the country, the responsibility for implementation of the scheme including providing Supplementary Nutrition and management thereof rests with States/UTs. The complaints received are forwarded to concerned States / UTs for taking appropriate action. Reports on complaints which are serious in nature are sought from State Government / UT Administration.
(e): 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 Health Mission, Mid Day Meal Scheme, Rajiv Gandhi Scheme 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, National Horticulture Mission, National Food Security Mission, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, Total Sanitation Campaign, National Rural Drinking Water Programme etc. All these schemes have potential to address one or other aspect related to Nutrition.
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