Lok Sabha Question No. 5685 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-04
Subject: Regarding Nutritional Status
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri Vamsi Krishna Gaddam

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5685

TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.04.2025

## REGARDING NUTRITIONAL STATUS

## 5685.  SHRI VAMSI KRISHNA GADDAM:

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

- (a) whether  according  to  the  March  2022  District  Nutrition  Profile,  Peddapalli district  has  reported  significant  malnutrition  indicators  among  children  under five years;
- (b) if  so,  the details thereof along with the specific interventions implemented to address undernutrition and stunting in the said district; and
- (c) the details of the outcomes of these interventions during the last two years?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OFWOMEN 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 Peddapalli district of Telangana.

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

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, 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 NFSA. 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.  Extra  Supplementary  Nutrition  is  provided  to Severely Acutely Malnourished (SAM) children as per National Food Security Act (NFSA).

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.

Under this Mission, one of the major activities undertaken is Community Mobilization and Awareness Advocacy to educate people on nutritional aspects as adoption of good nutrition habit requires sustained efforts for behavioural change. State and UTs are conducting and reporting regular sensitisation activities under Jan Andolans 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.

The  detail  of  malnutrition  indicators  of  Peddapalli  district  as  per  District  Nutrition Profile, March 2022 and Poshan tracker is Annexed.

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ANNEXURE ANNEXURE REFERRED IN REPLY TO PARTS (a, b AND c) OF LOK SABHA QUESTION NO. 5685  FOR 04.04.2025 'REGARDING NUTRITIONAL STATUS' ASKED BY SHRI VAMSI KRISHNA GADDAM The detail of malnutrition indicators of children (0-5 years) of Peddapalli district as per District Nutrition Profile, March 2022 and Poshan tracker is as follows:

| Source                                |   Stunting% |   Wasting% |   Underweight% |
|---------------------------------------|-------------|------------|----------------|
| District Nutrition Report, March 2022 |       27    |      29    |          33    |
| Poshan Tracker February 2023          |       24.44 |       6.14 |          13.25 |
| Poshan Tracker February 2024          |       25.7  |       5.52 |          10.87 |

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