Lok Sabha Question No. 3191 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-13
Subject: Malnutrition in Karnataka
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri Shreyas M Patel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3191

TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.12.2024

## MALNUTRITION IN KARNATAKA

## 3191.  SHRI SHREYAS M PATEL:

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

- (a) the steps taken by the Government to address the growing malnutrition problem in Karnataka, particularly in Hassan district, during the last five years;
- (b) the details of financial assistance provided by the Government to Karnataka for malnutrition prevention and nutritional support programmes, year-wise during the last five years;
- (c) the  specific  initiatives  undertaken  to  provide  a  balanced  nutritional  diet  to children and vulnerable groups in Karnataka during the last five years; and
- (d) the data on stunting, wasting, and underweight cases in Karnataka during the last five years?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (d) 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 through improved nutrition content and delivery. It  is  a  Centrally Sponsored mission, where the responsibility of implementation lies with the States/UTs.

This  scheme  is  available  to  all  the  eligible  beneficiaries  who  enroll  at  the Anganwadi Centers (AWCs) and is being implemented in all States/UTs including in the Hassan district of Karnataka.

Nutrition  goes  beyond  mere  eating  of  food;  it  requires  proper  digestion, absorption,  and  metabolism  which  are  influenced  by  factors  like  sanitation, education and access to safe drinking water. As malnutrition requires a multisector  approach  involving  dimensions  of  food,  health,  water,  sanitation  and education,  it  is  crucial  to  effectively  address  the  issue  of  malnutrition.  The challenges of malnutrition is being addressed under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and  Poshan  2.0  by establishing cross  cutting  convergence  amongst  18 Ministries/Departments.

Under this Mission, 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 scheme, 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 and upgraded last year. 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 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 for preparation of Hot Cooked Meal at least once a week 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.

Under  this  Mission,  one  of  the  major  activities  undertaken  is  Community Mobilization  and  Awareness  Advocacy  leading  to  a  Jan  Andolan  to  educate people on nutritional aspects. State and UTs are conducting and reporting regular sensitisation activities under community engagement programmes during 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 nutritional practices and all Anganwadi workers are required to conduct two Community Based Events every month.

Details of funds released to State of Karnataka under Mission Poshan 2.0 during FY 2021-22 to FY 2024-25 are at Annexure-I.

Details of malnutrition indicators of children (0-5 years) in Karnataka are provided at Annexure - II.

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Annexure - I

ANNEXURE REFERRED IN REPLY TO PART (b) OF LOK SABHA QUESTION NO. 3191  REGARDING  'MALNUTRITION  IN  KARNATAKA'  ASKED  BY  SHRI SHREYAS M PATEL

Details  of  funds  released  to  State  of  Karnataka  under  Mission  Poshan  2.0  are  as follows:

| Funds   | Released crore)   | (in   |
|---------|-------------------|-------|
| 2021-22 | 1003.70           |       |
| 2022-23 | 765.87            |       |
| 2023-24 | 912.96            |       |
| 2024-25 | 624.78*           |       |

* funds released up to 20 November 2024

*****

Annexure - II

ANNEXURE REFERRED IN REPLY TO PART (d) OF LOK SABHA QUESTION NO. 3191  REGARDING  'MALNUTRITION  IN  KARNATAKA'  ASKED  BY  SHRI SHREYAS M PATEL'

Details of malnutrition indicators of children (0-5 years) in Karnataka under mission Poshan 2.0 are as follows:

|              |   October 2022 |   October 2023 |   October 2024 |
|--------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
| Stunting%    |           41   |           39.7 |           39.7 |
| Wasted%      |            8.9 |            7.5 |            3.2 |
| Underweight% |           20.7 |           17.5 |           17.1 |

As per Poshan Tracker data.