Lok Sabha Question No. 5050 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-31
Subject: Malnutrition
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: PARBHUBHAI NAGARBHAI VASAVA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5050 TO BE ANSWERED ON 31 ST MARCH, 2017

## MALNUTRITION

## 5050. SHRI PARBHUBHAI NAGARBHAI VASAVA:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken any measures to check malnutrition in the people living Below Poverty Line (BPL) and the tribals;
- (b) if so, the details of the measures taken;
- (c)  the  number  of healthcare  centres in  the  BPL  and  tribal  areas  functioning  to check malnutrition; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE)

- (a)& (b): Yes. Government has taken various measures to check malnutrition in the people living Below Poverty Line (BPL) and the tribals which are as follows:
1. Promotion of appropriate infant and young child feeding practices that include early in of breastf eeding and exclusive breastfeeding till 6 months of age through ASHA worker an health care provider at health facilities. Under 'MAA' programme of MoHFW,  impetus on capacity  building  of  the  health  workers  on  lactation  management  at  both  community fac ility levels and 360 degree IEC campaign to create awareness regarding breastfeedi being carried out.
2. Treatment of sick children with severe acute malnutrition at special units called the Rehabilitation Centres (NRCs), set up at public heal th facilities. Presently 965 such centres are functional in 26 States and UTs.
3. Vitamin A supplementation for children aged 6 months to 5 years and iron and folic supplementation is being carried out for children, adolescents, pregnant and lactating women through life cycle approach under 'National Iron Plus Initiative'  programme.  Also, promotion  of  intake  of  iodised  salt  is  being  carried  out  under  National  Iodine  Def Disorders Control Programme.
4. Village  Health  and  Nutrition  Days  and  Mother  an d  Child  Protection  Card  are  the  joint initiative of the Ministries of Health & Family welfare and the Ministry of Woman and for  addressing  the  nutrition  concerns  in  children,  pregnant  women  and  lactating  mot Monthly Village Health and Nutrition Days (VHND) are monthly days held at village level in Anganwadi centre to increase the awareness and bring about desired changes in the di practices including the promotion of breastfeeding.
5. Under  the  Rashtriya  Bal  Swasthya  Karyakram  (RBSK)  and  Rash triya  Kishore  Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK), systematic efforts are undertaken to detect nutrition deficiency am children and adolescents respectively.
6. Supplementary  Nutrition  in  form  of  hot - cooked  meals  and  take - home  ration  provided  to children  aged  6  mon ths  to  6  years  under  Integrated  Child  Development  Services  (ICDS) Scheme, Growth monitoring of children aged 0 -5  years  on  a  monthly  basis  at  Anganwadi Centres.
7. Mid - day  meal  is  provided  for  all  students  enrolled  in  Government  and  Government  aid schools.

( c)& (d): As per RHS 2016, the number of healthcare centres functioning in the tribal a is 33,301. The details are as follows:

District Hospital: 163

Community Health Centres: 1030

Primary Health C entres: 4012

Sub Centres: 28,096

Also, presently 260 NRCs are functioning in tribal areas.