Lok Sabha Question No. 3446 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-08
Subject: Malnutrition among Women
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri Nalin Soren

## 3446. SHRI NALIN SOREN:

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

- (a)  the  details  of  the  schemes  being  implemented  by  the  Government  to  prevent  the  growing malnutrition among women in Jharkhand;
- (b)  whether the  Government has entrusted  any  authority with responsibility to  ensure the proper implementation of the said schemes; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof?

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3446 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.08.2025

## MALNUTRITION AMONG WOMEN

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI SAVITRI THAKUR)

(a)  to  (c)  : Under  the  15th  Finance  Commission,  various  components  like  Anganwadi  services, Poshan Abhiyaan and Scheme for Adolescent girls (of 14-18  years in Aspirational Districts  and North-Eastern region) have been subsumed under the umbrella Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 (Mission Poshan 2.0) to address the challenge of malnutrition. It is a Centrally Sponsored mission, where the responsibility for implementation of various activities lies with the States and UTs. This mission is a universal self-selecting umbrella scheme where there are no entry barriers for any beneficiary to register and receive services. This mission is being implemented across the country including in all the districts of Jharkhand.

The objectives of Mission are as follows:

-  To contribute to development of human capital in the country;
-  Address challenge of malnutrition;
-  Promote nutrition awareness and good eating habits for sustainable health and wellbeing

Nutrition  goes  beyond  mere  eating  of  food;  it  requires  proper  digestion,  absorption,  and metabolism of nutrients. This process is influenced by factors like sanitation, education and access to safe drinking water. As malnutrition requires a multi-sectoral approach involving dimensions of food,  health,  water,  sanitation  and  education,  it  is  crucial  to  effectively  address  the  issue  of malnutrition in a convergent manner. It is being addressed under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 by establishing cross cutting convergence amongst 18 Ministries/Departments.

Under Mission Poshan 2.0 a new strategy has been made for reduction in malnutrition and for improved health, wellness and immunity through activities like community engagement, outreach, behavioral change, and advocacy. It focuses on Maternal Nutrition, Infant and Young Child Feeding Norms, treatment of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM)/ Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM) and wellness through AYUSH practices to reduce prevalence of wasting, stunting, anaemia and being underweight.

Under this mission, Supplementary Nutrition is provided to Children (6 months to 6 years), Pregnant Women, Lactating Mothers and Adolescent Girls to beat the intergenerational cycle of malnutrition by adopting a life cycle approach. Supplementary nutrition is provided in accordance with the nutrition norms contained in Schedule-II of the National Food Security Act. These norms have  been  revised  in  January  2023.  The  old  norms  were  largely  calorie-specific;  however,  the revised  norms  are  more  comprehensive  and  balanced  in  terms  of  both  quantity  and  quality  of supplementary nutrition based on the principles of diet diversity that provides for quality protein, healthy fats and micronutrients.

Fortified  rice  is  being  supplied  to  AWCs  to  meet  the  requirement  of  micro-nutrients  and  to control anaemia among women and children. Greater emphasis is being laid on the use of millets at least once a week for preparation of Hot Cooked Meal and Take Home ration at Anganwadi centers.

Ministries of Women & Child Development and Health & Family Welfare have jointly released the protocol for Community Management of Malnutrition (CMAM) to prevent and treat severely acute malnutrition in children and for reducing associated morbidity and mortality. The communitybased 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.

Ministry of WCD in collaboration with M/o Ayush is conducting a pilot for use of evidencebased  Ayurveda  interventions  for  prevention  and  management  of  anemia  and  improving  the nutritional status among Adolescent girls (14-18 years) in five Mission Utkarsh Districts across the country including Paschimi Singhbhum district of Jharkhand.

As  on  date,  2  lakh  Anganwadi  Centres  have  been  approved  to  be  upgraded  as  Saksham Anganwadis for improved nutrition delivery and for imparting early childhood care and education. Saksham  Anganwadis  are  provided  with  better  infrastructure  than  the  conventional  Anganwadi Centres which includes internet/Wi-Fi connectivity, LED screens, water purifier/installation of RO Machine and smart learning equipments. A total of 16,775 Anganwadi Centres have been approved for upgradation to Saksham Anganwadis in the State of Jharkhand.

The  PM  JANMAN  Mission  launched  by  Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs  aims  for  targeted development of 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) residing in 18 States and a UT. This Mission focuses on 11 critical interventions related to 9 key Ministries including Ministry of Women and  Child  Development.  As  on  date,  a  total  of  2500  AWCs  have  been  approved  for construction under PM JANMAN across the country including 495 AWCs in Jharkhand.

Ministry of Tribal Affairs has launched Dharti Aaba Janjati Gram Unnat Abhiyan (DAJGUA) aimed  at  improving  the  socio-economic  condition  of  tribal  communities  by  adopting  saturation coverage  of  tribal  families  in  tribal  majority  areas  and  aspirational  block  ST  villages.  The intervention of Ministry of Women and Child Development involves establishment of 2000 new Saksham AWCs and upgradation of 6000 existing AWCs into Saksham AWCs from FY 2024-25 to  FY 2028-29. As on date 50 AWCs have been sanctioned during FY 2025-26 in the State of Jharkhand.

********