Lok Sabha Question No. 1435 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-10
Subject: Lack of Nutritious Meal
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Balubhau (Alias Suresh Narayan) Dhanorkar, S. Venkatesan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN & CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1435

TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.02.2023

## LACK OF NUTRITIOUS MEAL

1435. SHRI BALUBHAU ALIAS SURESH NARAYAN DHANORKAR: SHRI S. VENKATESAN:

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

- (a) whether as per a recent report by the Centre for Science and Environment and Down to Earth magazine, 71 per cent of Indians cannot afford a nutritious meal and more than 17 lakh people die annually because of diseases attributable to poor diet;
- (b) if so, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether  as  per  NFHS-5,  67.1  percent  of  children  aged  6-59  months  were anaemic in 2021 against 58.6 percent in 2016 highlighting a high increase in anaemia;
- (d) if so, the reasons therefor; and
- (e) the corrective measures taken/being taken by the Government in this regard

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b) Ministry is not aware of any such report. No data of deaths related to poor diet is reported by any States/UTs However, the issue of food security at the household level has been addressed by Government by ensuring access to adequate quantity of quality foodgrains at subsidised rates. During the COVID Pandemic, free ration was provided to 80 crore people under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana. Further, under the new integrated food security Scheme launched on 1 January 2023, free food grains would be provided to 81.35 crore beneficiaries under NFSA, for the year 2023, targeting the most vulnerable 67% of population.

Further, the Government of India has taken initiative of rice fortification to achieve nutrition  security  in  the  country.  As  per  the  Scheme  Guidelines  for  Saksham Anganwadi  and  Poshan  2.0,  local  dietary  inputs  and  fresh  produce  (green vegetables, fruits, medicinal plants and herbs), fortified rice and millets have to be actively encouraged in prescription of meals under Supplementary Nutrition to be served  to  different  categories  of  beneficiaries  to  promote  health,  wellness  and immunity and to manage anaemia. In FY 2021-22, 7.34 lakh MT of fortified rice was allocated to States. This year onwards only fortified rice is being allocated.

(c) & (d) As per NFHS-5, 67.1% children aged 6-59 months were anaemic. Anaemia is a multifaceted problem. There are various causes for anaemia in children, which inter  alia  include  low  iron  stores  at  birth  due  to  maternal  anaemia,  non-exclusive breastfeeding, insufficient quantity of iron and iron enhancers in diet such as foods rich in Vitamin-C, increased iron requirements related to rapid growth and development  during  infancy  and  childhood,  iron  losses  due  to  parasite  load  (e.g. malaria, intestinal worms), unsafe drinking water and inadequate personal hygiene and poor environmental sanitation, etc.

(e) POSHAN Abhiyaan is a programmatic approach in addressing the life cycle issues of malnutrition. Reduction of anemia is one of the important objectives of the POSHAN Abhiyaan in convergence with key Ministries/ Departments, mainly Ministry of Health &  Family  Welfare  (MoH&FW).  A  range  of  efforts  are  underway  to  improve  the integration of nutrition interventions into the existing health platforms through various strategic  measures.  As  part  of  its  comprehensive  strategy  to  tackle  anemia, Government of India has included staple food fortification from central ministries for schemes/programs in multiple States.

Under POSHAN Abhiyaan, efforts are also being made to strengthen processes for community  engagement,  empowerment  of  beneficiaries  and  behavioural  change towards  better  nutrition  for  which  the  Abhiyaan  provides  a  platform  for  organizing Community Based Events (CBEs) in Anganwadi Centres. Under Community Based Events, messages related to public health for improvement of nutrition and to reduce illness, prevention of anemia, importance of nutritious food, diet diversity etc. are being conducted. Many States/UTs have developed indigenous best practices like use of iron utensils for cooking to reduce iron deficiency, integrating Ayurveda products and formulations with supplementary nutrition etc.

Further, the Government of India has launched Anemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) strategy with  the  target  to  reduce  anemia  in  women,  children  and  adolescents  in  life  cycle approach. The 6x6x6 strategy under AMB implies six age groups, six interventions and six institutional mechanisms. The six interventions under Anemia Mukt Bharat strategy include, Prophylactic Iron Folic Acid  Supplementation, Periodic de-worming, Intensified  year-round  Behaviour  Change  Communication  Campaign,  Testing  and treatment of anemia, using digital methods and point of care treatment, Convergence and  coordination  with  other  line  departments  and  ministries  for  strengthening implementation etc

******