Lok Sabha Question No. 2755 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-06
Subject: Status of Malnourishment
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Dileshwar Kamait

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2755

TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.03.2020

## STATUS OF MALNOURISHMENT

## 2755. SHRI DILESHWAR KAMAIT:

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

- (a) whether the problem of malnutrition has notbeen tackled despite implementation of various schemesand programmes by the Government;
- (b) whether the Union Government has established any coordination Committee on the basis of the reports furnished by  Government  agencies  and  NonGovernmental agencies working on malnutrition in the rural areas;
- (c) if so, the reformative steps taken in this regard;
- (d) whether  the  non-compliance  of  the  regulation  of  the  Government,  lack  of accountability among Government agencies and corruption at lower levels are the reasons behind rising cases of malnutrition and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether the Government has conducted any inquiry in this regard and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (e)  Malnutrition  is  a  complex  and  multi-dimensional  issue,  affected  by  a number  of  generic  factors  including  poverty,  inadequate  food  consumption  due  to access and availability, inequitable food distribution, improper maternal, infant and child feeding  and  care  practices,  inequity  and  gender  imbalances,  poor  sanitary  and environmental conditions; and restricted access to quality health, education and social care services.

As per the report of NFHS-4 conducted in 2015-16, 35.7% children under 5 years of age  are underweight and  38.4%  are  stunted. As  per the recent report of Comprehensive  National Nutrition Survey (CNNS)  (2016-18), the prevalence of underweight  and  stunting  among  children  is  33.4%  and  34.7%  respectively,  which indicates a reduction when compared to the levels reported by NFHS-4. Further, as per NFHS - 4, 22.9% women (15-49 years of age) have chronic energy deficiency (BMI less  than  18.5)  which  is  a  decline  from  the  previous  NFHS-3  (2005-06)  levels  which reported 35.5% women having chronic energy deficiency.

The National Council on India's Nutritional Challenges has been set up under the Chairpersonship of Vice-Chairman, NITI Aayog, to provide policy directions to address India's  nutritional  challenges  through  coordinated  inter-sectoral  action  and  review programmes for nutrition on a quarterly basis. Also, an Executive Committee has been set  up  under  the  Chairpersonship  of  Secretary,  MWCD  with  representation  of  line Ministries  and  States  for  nutrition  related  activities  for  children  and  women  providing direction,  policy  and  guidelines  for  implementation  of  various  programmes/schemes under the POSHAN Abhiyaan.

The  Government  is  implementing  several  schemes/programmes  of  different Ministries/Departments  through  States/UTs  to  address  various  aspects  related  to nutrition.  This  Ministry  is  implementing  POSHAN  Abhiyaan,  Pradhan  Mantri  Matru Vandana  Yojana,  Anganwadi  Services  and  Scheme  for  Adolescent  Girls  under  the Umbrella  Integrated  Child  Development  Services  Scheme  (ICDS)  as  direct  targeted interventions to address the problem of malnutrition in the country.

POSHAN  Abhiyaan  aims  to  reduce  malnutrition  in  the  country  in  a  phased manner,  through  a  life  cycle  approach,  by  adopting  a  synergised  and  result  oriented approach. The major activities undertaken under the POSHAN Abhiyan are community based  events,  creating  awareness,  advocacy  community,  mobilization  leading  to  Jan Andolan- to educate the people on nutritional aspects, ensuring convergence at various levels, Information Technology enabled Common Application Software for strengthening service delivery and interventions, Capacity Building of Frontline Functionaries, incentivizing States/UTs for achieving goals etc.

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