Lok Sabha Question No. 930 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-05
Subject: Nutrition levels in Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Md Abu Taher Khan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 930

TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.12.2025

## NUTRITIONAL LEVELS IN PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TRIBAL GROUP

## 930. MD ABU TAHER KHAN:

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

- (a) whether the Government maintains data on nutrition levels among children belonging to Particularly Vulnerable Tribal groups (PVTGs), if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether any tribal dominated districts have reported closure, irregular functioning/food shortage in Anganwadi centres, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has introduced a 'Tribal Nutrition Card' with millet -based diet supply, considering high anaemia among tribal children, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether the Ministry proposes a separate budget line for nutrition in Forest Rights Act (FRA) and Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) households with 0 -6-year children, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  and  (b): The  details  of  nutrition  indicators  among  children  in  the  country  including  all Particularly Vulnerable Tribal groups (PVTGs) and other details related to Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) are available at https://www.poshantracker.in/statistics .

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, behavioural 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, 2013. 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 (Calcium, Zinc, Iron, Dietary Folate, Vitamin A, Vitamin-B6 and Vitamin B-12 ). Extra Supplementary Nutrition is provided to Severely Acutely Malnourished (SAM) children as per National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA).

Further, 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.

Ministry  vide  notification  dated  12th  September  2022  issued  Integrated  Nutrition  Support Programme-  Saksham  Anganwadi  and  Poshan  (2.0),  Rules  2022  to  regulate  the  entitlements specified under the provisions of National Food Security Act, 2013 for every pregnant woman and lactating mother, till six months after childbirth and every child in the age group of six months to six years.

Further, Ministry of Women & Child Development and Ministry of 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 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. The CMAM protocol includes an appetite test and screening process for children aged 6 months to 6 years who are severely  acute  malnourished  (SAM)  or  severely  underweight  (SUW).  Post-screening,  such children are referred to Nutrition Rehabilitation Centers (NRC) or hospital facilities for further care.

(c) and (d) : No specific policy measure has been taken by the Government on 'Tribal Nutrition Card' however, t o address the challenge of malnutrition, 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).  It  is  a  Centrally  Sponsored  mission,  where  the  responsibility  for implementation  of  various  activities  lies  with  the  States  and  UTs.   Further,  this  mission  is  a universal self-selecting umbrella scheme where there are no entry barriers for any beneficiary to register and receive services.

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