Lok Sabha Question No. 116 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-02
Subject: POSHAN Abhiyaan
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Bhartruhari Mahtab

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 116

TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.02.2024

## POSHAN ABHIYAAN

## 116. Shri Bhartruhari Mahtab

Will the Minister of Women and Child Development be pleased to state:

- (a) Whether the Government is aware that there is a significant gap between the set and achieved targets under the POSHAN Abhiyaan;
- (b) If so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (c) The measures taken by the Government to bridge the gap between targets and the current statistics?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c) The indicators for malnutrition like underweight, stunting and wasting have shown a steady improvement in National Health Family Survey (NHFS) conducted by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. As per the recent report of NFHS-5 (2019-21), the nutrition indicators for children under 5 years have improved as compared with NFHS-4 (2015-16). Stunting has reduced from 38.4% to 35.5%, while Wasting has reduced from 21.0% to 19.3% and Underweight prevalence has reduced from 35.8% to 32.1%.

As per the data of Poshan Tracker for the month of December 2023, around 8.91 crore children under 6 years were measured, out of whom 36% were found to be stunted and 17% were found to be underweight and 6% children under 5 years were found to be wasted. The levels of underweight and wasting obtained from Poshan Tracker data are much less than that projected by NFHS 5.

The  Government  has  accorded  high  priority  to  the  issue  of  malnutrition  and  is implementing several schemes/programmes  of  different Ministries/Departments through States/UTs to address various aspects related to nutrition. In the 15th FC, components of nutritional  support  for  children  below  the  age  of  6  years,  pregnant women and lactating mother, Adolescent Girls (14 - 18 years); Early Childhood Care and  Education  [3-6  years];  Anganwadi  infrastructure  including  modern,  upgraded Saksham Anganwadi,  POSHAN Abhiyaan and  Scheme  for  Adolescent  Girls  have been  reorganised  under  Mission  Saksham  Anganwadi  and  Poshan  2.0  (Mission Poshan 2.0). Mission Poshan 2.0 focuses on Maternal Nutrition, Infant and Young Child Feeding Norms, Treatment of MAM/SAM and Wellness through Ayush practices to reduce wasting and under-weight prevalence besides stunting and anaemia.

Under Mission Poshan 2.0, Supplementary nutrition is provided to beneficiaries 300 days in a year through the network of 13.97 lakh AWC located across the country for bridging the gap in the intake as compared to the recommended dietary intake. Only fortified rice is being supplied to AWCs to meet the requirement of micro nutrient and control anemia among women and children. Greater emphasis is being given on the use of millets for preparation of Hot Cooked Meal and Take Home rations (THR) at Anganwadi centres for Children below 6 years of age, Pregnant Women, Lactating Mothers.

The objectives of Poshan 2.0 are as follows:

- To contribute to human capital development of the country;
- Address challenges of malnutrition;
- Promote nutrition awareness and good eating habits for sustainable health and well-being; and
- Address nutrition related deficiencies through key strategies.

Steps have been taken to improve nutritional quality and testing in accredited labs, strengthen  delivery  and  leverage  technology  under  Poshan  Tracker  to  improve governance. States/UTs have been advised to promote use of AYUSH systems for prevention of malnutrition and related diseases. A programme to support development of  Poshan  Vatikas  at  Anganwadi  Centres  to  meet  dietary  diversity  gap  leveraging traditional knowledge in nutritional practices has also been taken up.

Under Poshan 2.0, one of the major activities undertaken is Community Mobilization and Awareness Advocacy leading to Jan Andolan to educate the people on nutritional aspects.  IEC  material  in  the  form  of  videos,  pamphlets,  flyers  etc.,  in  regional languages have also been developed around critical themes. Social & Behavioural Changes  have  been  inculcated  through  conducting  Community  Based  Events, Poshan  Maah  and  Poshan  Pakhwada  in  convergence  with  various  Ministries/ Departments and other stakeholders. So far, more than 90 crore sensitisation activities have  been  reported  by  States/  UTs  under  community  engagements  programmes through  11  Poshan  Maahs  and  Poshan  Pakhwadas  celebrated  in  the  months  of September  and  March-April  respectively.  Community  Based  Events  (CBEs)  have served as a significant strategy in changing nutrition practices. CBEs help to celebrate critical milestones in the life of pregnant women and children below two years of age and to disseminate critical information on inter alia, right time to ensure appropriate complementary  feeding  with  diet  diversity.  Close  to  3.70  crore  Community  Based Events have been held so far.

In addition, Ministry of Women & Child Development and Ministry of Health & Family Welfare  jointly  released  the  protocol  for  Community  Management  of  Malnutrition (CMAM)  to  prevent  and  treat  severe  acute  malnutrition  children  thereby  reducing associated morbidity and mortality. The community-based approach involves timely detection and screening of children with severe acute malnutrition in the community, management for those without medical complications with wholesome, local nutritious foods at home and supportive medical care. Those malnourished children which have medical complications are referred for facility-based care.

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