Lok Sabha Question No. 3508 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-13
Subject: Anaemia Cases in Bihar
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Dr. Mohammad Jawed

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3508 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 13 TH MARCH, 2026

## ANAEMIA CASES IN BIHAR

## 3508. DR. MOHAMMAD JAWED:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the high prevalence of anaemia among women, adolescent girls, and children across various districts of Bihar, including Kishanganj; (b) if so, the details of the anaemia cases reported across all districts of Bihar during the last five years, year-wise, category-wise of women, adolescent girls and children and districtwise;
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to address anaemia across the various districts of Bihar under various national health and nutrition programmes; and
- (d) whether the Government proposes any district-specific or special interventions to reduce anaemia prevalence across Bihar and if so, the details thereof

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SMT. ANUPRIYAPATEL)

- (a) & (b)The prevalence of anaemia among women, adolescent girls (15-19 years) and children (6-59 months) across the various districts of Bihar including Kishanganj as per National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5) is placed at Annexure.
- (c) & (d) The Government of India implements Anemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) programme in 6X6X6 strategy to reduce the prevalence of anaemia among six beneficiary groups Children 6-59 months, Children 5-9 years, Adolescents (10-19 years), Women of reproductive age (15-49 years), pregnant women and lactating mothers in a lifecycle approach across all States/UTs including Bihar. It is implemented through robust institutional mechanisms including convergence and coordination with line departments and ministries.

The interventions include the following:

1. Prophylactic Iron Folic Acid Supplementation to all six beneficiaries age group
2. Periodic deworming for children and adolescents in age group 1-19 years through biannual deworming days and one dose for pregnant women in the second trimester
3. Intensified year-round Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) Campaign for compliance to IFA and deworming; Appropriate Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF); Increase intake of iron-rich, protein-rich and vitamin C-rich foods; dietary diversification
4. Testing and Treatment of anemia using digital methods (Digital Invasive Haemoglobinometer) and point of care treatment. Management of severe anaemia in pregnant women by administration of IV Iron Sucrose/ Ferric Carboxy Maltose/ Blood transfusion
5. Addressing non-nutritional causes of anaemia in endemic pockets with special focus on malaria, hemoglobinopathies and fluorosis
6. Provision of IFA fortified food in government funded public health programmes

Annexure referred to the reply to parts (a) and (b) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question 3508 for answer on 13.03.2026

## Annexure District-wise prevalence of anemia among Children and Women as per National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5, 2019-21)

| District           |   Children age 6-59 months who are anaemic (%) |   All women age 15-19 years who are anaemic (%) |   All women age 15-49 years who are anaemic (%) |
|--------------------|------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|
| Pashchim Champaran |                                           61.6 |                                            56.3 |                                            50.6 |
| Purba Champaran    |                                           61   |                                            64.4 |                                            57.3 |
| Sheohar            |                                           73.1 |                                            64.3 |                                            61.6 |
| Sitamarhi          |                                           70   |                                            61.4 |                                            61.7 |
| Madhubani          |                                           71   |                                            69.2 |                                            61.4 |
| Supaul             |                                           63.6 |                                            63.2 |                                            60.7 |
| Araria             |                                           75.8 |                                            64   |                                            67.9 |
| Kishanganj         |                                           67.5 |                                            62.6 |                                            65.1 |
| Purnia             |                                           68   |                                            64   |                                            66   |
| Katihar            |                                           65.6 |                                            66.7 |                                            68.4 |
| Madhepura          |                                           67.7 |                                            70.4 |                                            65.7 |
| Saharsa            |                                           69.3 |                                            67.9 |                                            65.3 |
| Darbhanga          |                                           68.9 |                                            59.7 |                                            60.8 |
| Muzaffarpur        |                                           64.6 |                                            66.1 |                                            58.9 |
| Gopalganj          |                                           56.1 |                                            54.1 |                                            53.8 |
| Siwan              |                                           63.9 |                                            64   |                                            53.1 |
| Saran              |                                           69.8 |                                            70.9 |                                            62.8 |
| Vaishali           |                                           77.1 |                                            69.6 |                                            63.1 |
| Samastipur         |                                           67.2 |                                            65.9 |                                            60.5 |
| Begusarai          |                                           74.5 |                                            64.3 |                                            62.9 |
| Khagaria           |                                           67.1 |                                            65.1 |                                            59.5 |
| Bhagalpur          |                                           78.7 |                                            73.9 |                                            73   |
| Banka              |                                           77.8 |                                            60.4 |                                            65.9 |
| Munger             |                                           74.3 |                                            73.8 |                                            71.4 |
| Lakhisarai         |                                           77.2 |                                            75.1 |                                            72.6 |
| Sheikhpura         |                                           80.1 |                                            73.9 |                                            69.5 |
| Nalanda            |                                           80.3 |                                            70.2 |                                            71   |
| Patna              |                                           65.4 |                                            62.8 |                                            67.1 |
| Bhojpur            |                                           67.7 |                                            72.7 |                                            73.6 |
| Buxar              |                                           68.3 |                                            66   |                                            66.2 |
| Kaimur (Bhabua)    |                                           71.4 |                                            70.8 |                                            70.3 |
| Rohtas             |                                           70.3 |                                            66.3 |                                            64.9 |
| Aurangabad         |                                           68.4 |                                            56.9 |                                            60.5 |
| Gaya               |                                           76.7 |                                            65.5 |                                            64.3 |
| Nawada             |                                           73.3 |                                            73.7 |                                            70.4 |

| Jamui     |   81.9 |   75.9 |   75.2 |
|-----------|--------|--------|--------|
| Jehanabad |   61.9 |   72.3 |   68.1 |
| Arwal     |   65.8 |   66.3 |   66.9 |