(a) whether children remain deprived of their daily nutritional diet in various parts of the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise including Bundelkhand;
(c) whether measures are being undertaken by the Government to raise awareness regarding availability of nutrition diet; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)
(a) & (b) Age specific Supplementary Nutrition is provided to children at anganwadi centres in all States/UTs including in Bundelkhand as per nutritional norms laid down under National Food Security Act,2013.
(c) & (d) In order to improve the nutritional status among women and children in the country, Government implements the Anganwadi Services Scheme, Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana and Scheme for Adolescent Girls as targeted interventions. Further, Government has taken measures to strengthen nutritional content, delivery, outreach and outcomes with focus on developing practices that nurture health, wellness and immunity to disease and malnutrition. Steps have also been taken to improve nutritional quality and testing, strengthen delivery and leverage technology to improve governance. Government has advised States/UTs to ensure that the quality of supplementary nutrition conforms to prescribed standards laid down under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and regulations made thereunder. States/UTs have also been advised to promote use of AYUSH systems for prevention of malnutrition and related diseases. A programme to support development of Poshan Vatikas at Anganwadi centers to meet dietary diversity gap leveraging traditional knowledge in nutritional practices has also been taken up.
For creating awareness on nutrition and healthy diets, focus on behavioral change through community based events and Jan Andolan has been an important component under Poshan Abhiyaan. In order to strengthen the processes for community engagement, empowerment of beneficiaries and increased social accountability, provisions are made for organizing community based events (CBEs) twice in a month by each Anganwadi Centre.
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