Lok Sabha Question No. 2727 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-06
Subject: Impact of NFSA on Malnutrition
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Ajay Nishad

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN & CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2727 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.03.2020

## IMPACT OF NFSA ON MALNUTRITION

## 2727.   SHRI AJAY NISHAD:

Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether malnutrition is still prevalent among children under the age of five years and National Food Security Act, 2013 has not proven effective as expected in addressing the issue;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the  challenges  being  faced  in  the  enforcement  of  the  provisions  of  the  Act  and  the remedial steps taken or proposed to be taken to address the problem of malnutrition in an effective manner?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a & b) 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.  The above data shows that there is a reduction in the level of malnutrition among children in the country.

Sections  4,  5  and  6  of  the  National  Food  Security  Act,  2013  have  converted  the provision of Supplementary Nutrition (SN) to the beneficiaries of Anganwadi Services into a legal  entitlement.  The  impact  of  Supplementary  Nutrition  provided  to  the  beneficiaries  of Anganwadi  Services  especially  the  children  is  evident  from  reduction  in  the  levels  of malnutrition among the children as mentioned above. However, as per the ICDS (Supplementary Nutrition) Rules, 2017, supplementary nutrition is provided to those beneficiaries who visit the Anganwadi Centres as the scheme is self-selecting.

- (c) Supplementary Nutrition, now mandated under the NFSA, 2013, has been one of the six  services  provided  under  the  Anganwadi  Services  (ICDS)  Scheme  since  1975.    Besides making  supplementary  nutrition  a  legal  entitlement,  NFSA  also  provides  payment  of  Food Security Allowance in case of non-supply of supplementary nutrition to the beneficiary.  It also makes provision  for  supply  of  food  grains  at  NFSA  rates  for  preparation  of  supplementary nutrition  under  the  Anganwadi  Services  scheme.    The  challenges  being  faced  in  the implementation of the scheme, i.e., providing supplementary nutrition to the beneficiaries are related  to  timely  release  of  funds  by  the  States/UTs  as  their  share,  timely  payment  of honorarium to the functionaries, leakages, supply chain management issues, monitoring and supervision, etc.  These issues are addressed with improved monitoring mechanism through Rapid Reporting System and ICT-Real Time Monitoring under the newly approved National Nutrition Mission in addition to the in-built five-tier monitoring system under the scheme.

Further, the Ministry is also implementing Scheme for Adolescent Girls and Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana under the Umbrella Integrated Child Development Services Schemeas direct targeted interventions to address the problem of malnutrition in a lifecycle approach. All these  schemes  address  one  or  other  aspects  related  to  nutrition  and  have  the  potential  to improve nutritional outcomes in the country.

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