Lok Sabha Question No. 2958 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-12
Subject: Improvement in Nurtition Level
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Sanjay Jaiswal

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2958 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12 TH MARCH, 2021

## IMPROVEMENT IN NURTI TION LEVEL

## 2958. DR. SANJAY JAI SWAL:

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

(a)  whether  the  Government  plans  to  collaborate with  UNICEF/other  stakeholders/NGOs  to improve the nutritional scenario in the country and has received any proposal from the private sector for eradication of malnutrition and if so, the details thereof;

(b)  the  other  measures  taken  by  the  Government  to supplement  the  deficiency  of  nutrients, keeping watch on the health of malnourished women and children and to eradicate malnutrition in the country;

(c)  whether the  Government  has  made  any  impact assessment  of  schemes  in  improving  the nutritional status of women and children; and

(d) if so, the details and outcome thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI ASHWINI KUM AR CHOUBEY)

(a)  &  (b): Govt.  of  India  provides  technical  and  financial  support  to  the  States/UTs  fo implementation of various initiatives to address malnutrition in life cycle approach. Deve partners including UNICEF extend technical support t o States/ UTs for implementation.

The Government of India has been implementing POSHAN (Prime Minister Overarching Scheme  for  Holistic  Nourishment)  Abhiyaan,  to  address  malnutrition  in  India  thro convergence,  behaviour change,  IEC,  advocacy,  capacity  building,  innovations  and  demand generation.

Government  of  India  is  implementing  Anganwadi  Services,  a  centrally  sponsored flagship  programme  to  improve  the  nutritional  status  of  women  and  children.  The  sch provides  pack age  of  six  services  i.e.  Supplementary  Nutrition,  Pre  School  Non - formal Education,  Nutrition  and  Health  Education,  Immunization,  Health  Check - ups  and  Referral services.

Government  of  India  is  also  implementing  various  health  and  nutrition  intervent under National Health Mission (NHM). These are:

- Promotion  of  appropriate  infant  and  young  child  feeding  practices  that  include initiation  of  breastfeeding  and  exclusive  breastfeeding  till  6  months  of  age  t ASHA worker and health care provider at heal h facilities.
- Vitamin A supplementation (VAS) for children till the age of 5 years.
- 'Anaemia  Mukt  Bharat  (AMB)'  for  supplementation  and  treatment  of  anaemia  in children,  adolescents,  pregnant  and  lactating  women,  and  women  of  reproductive  a group i n programme mode through life cycle approach.
- Promotion of intake of Double Fortified Salt (DFS) in ICDS, Mid - day meal and Public Distribution System (PDS) is mandatory.
- Village Health and Nutrition Days and Mother and Child Protection Card are the j initiative of the Ministries of Health & Family welfare and the Ministry of Woman Child for addressing the nutrition concerns in children, pregnant women and lact mothers. Nutrition Education, Village Health and Nutrition Days (VHND)are monthly days held at village level in Anganwadi centre to increase the awareness and bring desired  changes  in  the  dietary  practices  (including  iron  rich  food)  and  promoti breastfeeding.

(c)  &  (d):  Ministry  of  Health  and  Family  Welfare  (MoHFW),  Government of  India  in collaboration with UNICEF has conducted Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey (CNNS), in 2016 - 18 in 30 States. The objective of the survey was to assess the level of under - nutrition, micronutrient level, Non - Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and the associated risk factors in the children and adolescents.

As per the report, prevalence of stunting, wasting and underweight among childre 34.7%, 17% and 33.4% respectively.