Lok Sabha Question No. 1039 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-22
Subject: Road Map to Tackle Malnutrition
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Rita Bahuguna Joshi, Krishna Pal Singh Yadav, Shrikant Eknath Shinde, Heena Vijaykumar Gavit, Sujay Radhakrishna Vikhepatil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF WOMEN & CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1039

TO BE ANSWERED ON 22.07.2022

## ROAD MAP TO TACKLE MALNUTRITION

1039.   PROF. RITA BAHUGUNA JOSHI:

DR. KRISHNA PAL SINGH YADAV:

DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

DR. HEENA GAVIT

DR. SUJAY RADHAKRISHNA VIKHE PATIL:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government/NITI  Aayog  has  prepared  any  road  map  to  tackle malnutrition in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether proper consultation has been done with the States/UTs/social organisations  before  formulation  of  the  said  road  map  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (c) Whether the Government proposes to constitute any State/district level committees to monitor the implementation of the said road map and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) Whether public representatives and experts are also proposed to be included in these monitoring committees and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  &  (b)  Government  has  accorded  high  priority  to  the  issue  of  malnutrition  and  is making serious efforts to address malnutrition. To address various policy and systemic needs, the ICDS and Anganwadi Services schemes were re-evaluated by the Ministry of  Women  and  Child  Development  in  respect  of  programme  design,  implementation process, outcome and impact and for re-assessing the relevance of the programme in achieving its aims and goals. The efforts under the Supplementary Nutrition Programme  under  Anganwadi  Services,  Scheme  for  Adolescent  Girls  and  POSHAN Abhiyaan  have  been  re-aligned  under  'Saksham  Anganwadi  and  POSHAN  2.0'  for maximizing  nutritional  outcomes.  Poshan  2.0  seeks  to  address  the  challenges  of malnutrition  in  children,  adolescent  girls,  pregnant  women  and  lactating  mothers through a strategic shift in nutrition content and delivery and by creation of a convergent eco-system  to  develop  and  promote  practices  that  nurture  health,  wellness  and immunity.   Zonal  and  sub-zonal  conferences  were  held  across  the  country  with States/UTs and civil society organizations for their inputs and suggestions.

(c)  &  (d)  POSHAN Abhiyaan provides a platform to converge the activities of various stakeholders  for  attaining  the  goal  of  ' Suposhit  Bharat' .     For  greater  transparency, accountability and  quality in  nutrition  support  programmes  and  service  delivery, Streamlined Guidelines were issued on 13.1.2021. Under these guidelines,  the DM has been designated as the Nodal Point in the district for monitoring nutritional status and quality standards. The DM will also chair the District Nutrition Committee. State Level Steering  Committees  have  been  mandated  to  to  ensure  effective  convergence  and monitoring of the implementation of the scheme. The District Nutrition Committee shall have representation from relevant line departments, including District Rural Development officer, Chief Medical Officer, Ayush-in-charge, Forest officer, Education Officer, Agricultural Officer as well as  Nutrition experts. Further,  involvement of AWC Level Management Committees, village communities, Mothers Groups, and Panchayati Raj Institutions (Poshan Panchayats) is also mandated to bring community ownership and encourage accountability

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