Question : Malnutrition among Women and Children

(a) whether the Government has taken note of poor ranking of India vis-a-vis other developing countries in the Global Nutrition Report 2016 and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government has identified districts/blocks facing chronic malnutrition among women and children across the nation;
(c) if so, the details thereof indicating the number of malnourished, high rate of neo-natal mortality, underweight and stunted children in the country, State/UT wise along with the reasons therefor; and
(d) the details of impact assessment studies of schemes initiated to improve the nutritional status of women and children along with the further measures taken by the Government to eradicate malnutrition from the country?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI KRISHNA RAJ)

(a) Yes Madam. However, various nutrition indicators pertaining to India shown in the Report are based on National Family Health Survey -3 (2005-06), which is more than 10 to 12 years old. NFHS-4 data now available for 26 States shows a declining trend in the indicators of malnutrition in the country.
(b) & (c): Yes, Madam. The Government has identified 200 districts with high malnutrition burden in the country. The state-wise prevalence of underweight, stunting and wasting among children as per the current available data of National Family Health Survey-4 (26 States) is at Annexure-I. The State/UT-wise Neonatal Mortality Rate as per Sample Registration Survey is at Annexure-II. Malnutrition is a multi-faceted problem and the causes include inadequate access to food, health services, safe drinking water, sanitation and environmental conditions, educational levels, income and socio-cultural factors like early marriage, etc. The situation is further compounded by ignorance about nutritional needs of infants and young children and repeated infections.

(e) National Family Health Surveys conducted periodically assess the nutritional status of the population over a period of time which is an outcome of the impact of all the schemes of the Government intended to bring about improvement in the nutritional status. The latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4) was conducted in 2015-16 and as per the current available data for 26 States there is a declining trend in the indicators of malnutrition in the country as compared to NFHS-3 data, which is an outcome of the various schemes implemented by the Government towards this goal.




However, Malnutrition is complex, multi-dimensional and inter-generational in nature, needing convergence of interventions, coordination and concerted action from various sectors. The Government has accorded high priority to the issue of malnutrition and is implementing several schemes/programmes of different Ministries/Departments through States/UTs to address one or other aspects related to nutrition. This Ministry is implementing Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme, Scheme for Adolescent Girls (Sabla), Matritva Sahyog Yojna (MSY) as direct targeted interventions with an aim to improve nutritional outcomes and bring down the level of malnutrition in the country especially amongst women and children.
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