Lok Sabha Question No. 2984 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-28
Subject: Status of Nutrition in India
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: M. B. RAJESH, SANJAY HARIBHAU JADHAV, K. ASHOK KUMAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN & CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UN-STARRED QUESTION NO. 2984

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.12.2018

## STATUS OF NUTRITION IN INDIA

SHRI SANJAY HARIBHAU JADHAV:

2984. SHRI M.B. RAJESH: SHRI K. ASHOK KUMAR:

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

- (a) the total number of child deaths due to malnutrition in the country during the last three years, State/UTwise including Maharashtra;
- (b) the corrective steps/measures taken by the Government to prevent such deaths;
- (c) whether  any  comprehensive  nationwide  survey/study  of  child  malnutrition  was  done  in  the  last  five years, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether the Government has decided to release a report on the status of nutrition in the country under the supervision of National Nutrition Mission and if so the details thereof and if not the reasons therefor;
- (e) whether the Government has made any efforts to increase the coverage of anganwadis to tackle child malnutrition, if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) whether the Government proposes to ensure universalization of ICDS in a time bound manner to tackle child malnutrition and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (DR. VIRENDRA KUMAR)

- (a): The data on number of deaths of children in the country is not maintained by this Ministry. However, 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.
- (b): 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  various aspects  related  to  nutrition.  This  Ministry    is    implementing    Anganwadi  Services,  Scheme  for Adolescent  Girls  and  Pradhan  Mantri  Matru  Vandana  Yojana  under  the  umbrella  Integrated    Child Development  Services  (ICDS)  Scheme  for  as direct targeted interventions.

Further, Government has also set up POSHAN Abhiyaan, which aims to prevent and reduce prevalence of stunting, underweight and anaemia among children (0-6 years), prevalence of anaemia among women (15-49 years) and reduction in prevalence of low birth weight in the country in a time bound manner.

- (c): The  data  on  nutritional  indicators  is  captured  under  the  National  Family  Health  Surveys  (NFHS) conducted periodically by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.  The last National Family Health Survey (NFHS) - 4 was conducted in 2015-16.
- (d): No, Madam. Such data is covered under National Family Health Surveys.
- (e) & (f): Anganwadi Services under the umbrella ICDS Scheme is implemented Pan-India in all the districts of the country. A total of 14 lakh Anganwadi Centres have been approved out of which 13.63 lakh AWCs are  operational  as  on  1.6.2018.  Anganwadi  Services  are  universal  and  available  to  all  eligible beneficiaries.

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