Lok Sabha Question No. 1827 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-11
Subject: Nutritional Diet and Healthy Living for Children
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Kripanath Mallah

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1827 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11 TH FEBRUARY 2022

## NUTRITIONAL DIET AND HEALTHY LIVING FOR CHILDREN

## 1827: SHRI KRIPANATH MALLAH:

## Will the MINISTER of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- a) whether the Government has any plan for promoting nutritional diet and a healthy living especially for children across the country;
- b) if so, the details thereof;
- c) the details of the funds likely to be sanctioned and the target likely to set in this regard; and
- d) the time by when it is likely to be implemented?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

(a) to (d)

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

The detail of supplementary nutrition is provided to different categories of the beneficiaries as per the norms for 300 days in a year are through ICDS. The detail are provided in Annexure.

Under Poshan Abhiyaan 'Rashtriya POSHAN Maah' and 'Poshan Pakhwada' are celebrated each year in the month of September and March respectively with the aim to create awareness about nutrition and healthy food etc.

Awareness generation activities such as 'Eat Right India' campaign are also implemented with the objective  to  create  awareness  about  'Eating  Healthy'  'Eating  Safe'  and  'Eating  Sustainably 'among school children and the community at large.

Other schemes below implementing for promoting nutritional diet and a healthy living especially for children across the country are:

-  Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN) Scheme earlier known as 'National Programme for Mid-Day Meal in Schools' is one of the foremost rights based Centrally Sponsored Schemes. This Scheme covers all school children studying in Classes I-VIII in Government and Government-Aided Schools.
-  Schedule II of the National Food Security Act (NFSA), mandates provision of hot cooked meal containing 450 calories and 12 gms protein for primary and 700 calories and 20 gms protein  for  upper  primary  class  children  under  this  scheme.  The  scheme  also  provides cooking cost of ₹ 4.97 for primary and ₹ 7.45 for upper primary per child per day on all working days for meeting the cost of pulses, vegetables, edible oil and condiments.

| S. no.   | Categories                                                                                                                                          | Types of food                                                                                                                                       |
|----------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1)       | Children (6-36 months)                                                                                                                              | Take Home Ration containing 500 calories of energy and 12-15 gms. of protein in the form that is palatable to the child.                            |
| 2)       | Severely mal-nourished children (6-36 months) Same type of food as above with food supplement of 800 calories of energy and 20- 25 gms. of Protein. | Severely mal-nourished children (6-36 months) Same type of food as above with food supplement of 800 calories of energy and 20- 25 gms. of Protein. |
| 3)       | Children (3-6 years)                                                                                                                                | Morning snack in the form of milk/banana/seasonal fruits etc. and Hot cooked Meal.                                                                  |
| 4)       | Severely mal-nourished Additional 300 calories of energy and 8-10                                                                                   | Severely mal-nourished Additional 300 calories of energy and 8-10                                                                                   |
| 5)       | Pregnant women &Nursing mothers                                                                                                                     | Take Home Ration in the form of micro- nutrient fortified food and/or energy dense food.                                                            |