Lok Sabha Question No. 2703 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-06
Subject: Micro Nutrient Deficiencies Among Pre-School Children
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Kuruva Gorantla Madhav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN & CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2703 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.03.2020

## MICRO NUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES AMONG PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN

2703.   SHRI KURUVA GORANTLA MADHAV:

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

- (a) whether the Government  has  proposed  to plan to overcome  Micro nutrient deficiencies among Pre-school children across the country and if so, the details of programmes implemented for this purpose during the last three years and if so, the details thereof, year-wise;
- (b) the  steps  taken/to  be  taken  by  the  Government  in  future  to  combat  malnutrition across the country, State/UT-wise including Andhra Pradesh;
- (c) the details of funds allocated for this purpose under the ICDS scheme to the States during the said period, State/UT-wise including Andhra Pradesh;
- (d) whether any additional programmes are being planned for marginalized groups living in  tribal,  rural  and  remote  areas  across  the  country  especially  in  Andhra  Pradesh; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (e) In order to address the micronutrient deficiencies among preschool children across the country including marginalized groups living in tribal, rural and remote areas across the country including Andhra Pradesh, the Government is taking following measures:
- (i) Supplementary Nutrition is provided under the Anganwadi Services Scheme in order to bridge the gap between the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) and Average Dietary  Intake  (ADI).  The  Supplementary  Nutrition  is  provided  in  the  form  of  Hot Cooked Meal, (ii) Morning Snack and (iii) Micronutrient Fortified Food and/or Energydense Food as Take Home Ration (THR).
- (ii)  States/UTs have been advised to use fortified food items under the Supplementary Nutrition Programme.
- (iii) Government has also emphasized the importance of dietary diversification to address micronutrient  deficiencies  through  the  use  of  fresh  local  fruits  and  vegetables depending  on  the  local  food  habits.  In  this  context,  States/UTs  have  also  been advised to promote Nutrition Garden/Kitchen Garden in the premises of Anganwadi Centers  to  help  ensure  regular  supply  of  fresh  fruits  and  vegetables  rich  in micronutrients like Iron, Vitamin-C, etc., for inclusion in supplementary nutrition and improve the nutritional status of Anganwadi Services beneficiaries.
- (iv) States/UTs have also been advised to include Millets (nutri-cereals / coarse grains like Jowar, Bajra, Ragi, etc.) in the recipes to enhance the nutritional quality of meals provided under Supplementary Nutrition Programme.
- (v)  Under  the  National  Health  Mission,  Ministry  of  Health  and  Family  Welfare,  is implementing  supplementation  programmes  like  Anaemia  Mukt  Bharat  (Iron  and Folic Acid supplementation for children, adolescents, pregnant women and lactating mothers), Vitamin-A supplementation for children under 5 years, promotion of iodized salt,  administration  of  de-worming  tablets  and  promotion  of  appropriate  infant  and young child feeding practices under the Mothers' Absolute Affection (MAA) programme.
- (vi) Under the POSHAN Abhiyaan, Community Mobilization and Awareness Advocacy is carried out leading to Jan Andolan to impart education on nutritional aspects.
- (vii)  The  Food  and  Nutrition  Board  of  the  Ministry  imparts  education  and  training  in nutrition and works towards generating awareness through electronic and print media on  the  importance  of  healthy  balanced  diets  especially  through  the  use  of  locally available foods.

The  details  of  State/UT-wise  funds  allocated  during  the  last  three  years  under  the supplementary  nutrition  component  of  Anganwadi  Services  under  the  Umbrella  ICDS scheme including Andhra Pradesh at Annexure.

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Annexure Statement referred to in reply to part (a to e) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Q.No. 2703 to be answered on 06.03.2020 State/UT-wise Fund released in Supplementary Nutrition component of the Anganwadi Services Scheme during last 3 years:

(Rs. in Lakh)

| S. No.   | State/UTs         |   2016-17 |   2017-18 |   2018-19 |
|----------|-------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
| 1        | ANDHRA PRADESH    |  31467.5  |  31596.9  |  37353.6  |
| 2        | BIHAR             |  52520.2  |  53742    |  76987.8  |
| 3        | CHHATTISGARH      |  22461.9  |  25724.9  |  24280    |
| 4        | GOA               |    591.45 |   1011.2  |    859.5  |
| 5        | GUJARAT           |  36162.6  |  38497    |  32051.6  |
| 6        | HARYANA           |   7131.04 |   3945.75 |   7305.22 |
| 7        | JHARKHAND         |  28723.1  |  25347.4  |  29083.2  |
| 8        | KARNATAKA         |  33914.9  |  56009.2  |  43589    |
| 9        | KERALA            |   8305.96 |  10976.6  |  10785.4  |
| 10       | MADHYA PRADESH    |  55779.3  |  66775.9  |  64088.8  |
| 11       | MAHARASHTRA       |  32053.2  |  41445.8  | 106535    |
| 12       | ODISHA            |  25519.6  |  47316.2  |  43450.6  |
| 13       | PUNJAB            |   3124.57 |   5282.25 |   3744.1  |
| 14       | RAJASTHAN         |  33045.7  |  34931.9  |  34950.7  |
| 15       | TAMIL NADU        |  26017.9  |  33186.7  |  37271.3  |
| 16       | TELANGANA         |  17418.9  |  18130.7  |  22045.6  |
| 17       | UTTAR PRADESH     | 160784    | 129354    | 104579    |
| 18       | WEST BENGAL       |  30462.5  |  67697.9  |  68046.9  |
| 19       | DELHI             |   7551.09 |   4051.41 |   3474.65 |
| 20       | PUDUCHERRY        |   1702.02 |    851.02 |      0    |
| 21       | HIMACHAL PRADESH  |   4662.06 |   5795.63 |   6976.21 |
| 22       | JAMMU & KASHMIR   |   4035.18 |   4035.17 |   2128.5  |
| 23       | UTTARAKHAND       |   4649.44 |  15212.1  |  13612.6  |
| 24       | A & N ISLANDS     |    262.68 |    284.57 |    369.94 |
| 25       | CHANDIGARH        |    190.49 |    592.09 |    769.72 |
| 26       | D&NAGAR HAVELI    |    203.8  |    129.89 |    168.86 |
| 27       | DAMAN & DIU       |    174.12 |    130.83 |    170.08 |
| 28       | LAKSHADWEEP       |     68.32 |     85.35 |    100.26 |
| 29       | ARUNACHAL PRADESH |   4052.72 |   4035.02 |   4411.4  |
| 30       | ASSAM             |  17921    |  31554.7  |  30597    |
| 31       | MANIPUR           |    500    |   5244.2  |   7134.08 |
| 32       | MEGHALAYA         |  11184.7  |  12238.9  |  12364    |
| 33       | MIZORAM           |   2156.92 |   1539.37 |   1843.36 |
| 34       | NAGALAND          |  10611    |   7000.08 |   8231.2  |
| 35       | SIKKIM            |    644.34 |    481.21 |    450.66 |
| 36       | TRIPURA           |   4010.56 |   6456.59 |   7781.78 |
| Total    | Total             | 680065    | 790690    | 847592    |