Lok Sabha Question No. 4649 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-20
Subject: Prevalence of Anaemia
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Varun Chaudhry

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4649 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 20 TH MARCH'2026

## PREVALENCE OF ANAEMIA

## 4649. SHRI VARUN CHAUDHRY:

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

- (a) whether it is a fact that there is a high prevalence of anaemia in the country and if so, the details thereof;

(b) the details of the total expenditure and expenditure on awareness programmes for Anaemia Mukt Bharat since 2018, year-wise;

(c) the number of persons screened under sickle cell anaemia elimination vis a vis the targets set by the department since 2018, year-wise and State-wise; and

(d) whether the aim of reducing the prevalence of anaemia by three percent per year is being met since 2018, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor along with the action taken by the Government to achieve the targets in the future?

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

- (a) The national prevalence of anaemia in children, adolescents and women as per National Family Health Survey 5 (2019-21) is placed at Annexure I.
- (b) The details of funds approved and expenditure on Anaemia Mukt Bharat under National Health Mission across the country from the period of FY 2021-22 to FY 2024-25 is placed at Annexure II.
- (c) Under National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission, affordable, accessible and quality care is provided to Sickle Cell Disease patients through awareness creation, targeted screening in the age group of 0-40 years in affected districts of tribal areas and counselling through collaborative efforts of Central and State Government. As reported by state on SCD portal as on 15.03.2026, more than 6.97 crore screening have been conducted in tribal dominated areas across the country. State-wise details of cumulative number of people screened under National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission is provided at Annexure III.

(d) To reduce the prevalence of anaemia among children and women the Government of India implements Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) programme across the country through a 6X6X6 strategy. This includes six interventions which are Prophylactic Iron and Folic Acid supplementation, Deworming to prevent Soil transmitted helminths infestation, Intensified Behavioural Change Communication campaign, Testing for anaemia and treatment as per anaemia management protocols, Mandatory provision of IFA fortified food in public health programmes and addressing non nutritional causes of anaemia especially malaria, fluorosis and hemoglobinopathies implemented via robust institutional mechanism.

The proactive measures include digital interventions for testing and tracking, active review and monitoring line listed anaemic beneficiaries, and follow-up by ASHA, ANM at field level, IEC and behaviour change targeted to prevent normalizing anemia and to promote uptake of iron rich foods available locally.

Regular National level reviews, along with supportive supervision visits and Common Review Mission tours of the States/UTs are undertaken to support and strengthen the Nutrition interventions in the States/UTs including anaemia among children.

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Annexure referred to in the reply to part (a) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4649 for answer on 20.03.2026

Annexure I

## Prevalence of Anaemia among Children and Women as per NFHS 5 (2019-21)

| Region / area   |   Anaemia in Children 6-59 months (%) |   Anaemia in Adolescent girls (15-19 years) (%) |   Anaemia in all Women (15-49 years) (%) |   Anaemia in pregnant women (15-49 years) (%) |
|-----------------|---------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|
| India           |                                  67.1 |                                            59.1 |                                       57 |                                          52.2 |

Annexure II Details of funds approved and expenditure on Anaemia Mukt Bharat under National

## Health Mission from the period of FY 2021-22 to FY 2024-25

|   S. No. | Financial Year   |   Approvals (in Lakhs) |   Expenditure (in Lakhs) |
|----------|------------------|------------------------|--------------------------|
|        1 | FY 2021-22*      |               220371   |                 161369   |
|        2 | FY 2022-23       |                80175.4 |                  27068   |
|        3 | FY 2023-24       |                98479.1 |                  33560.3 |
|        4 | FY 2024-25       |                80914.8 |                  31499.5 |

- 1.SPIP Approval and Expenditure is as per the available Financial Management Reports submitted by State/UTs and are provisional. Source: NHM Finance
- 2.Expenditure includes Expenditure against Central Release, Corresponding State share release & unspent balances at the beginning of the year.
- 3.* the above data comprises of inter alia follow up mechanism for the severely anaemic women and the women with blood disorders, one day orientation of frontline workers (ASHA/ANM) and allied department workers (Teachers/AWW) on Anaemia Mukt Bharat strategy as per RCH training norms and component of AMB Programs.

Annexure referred to in the reply to part (c) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4649 for answer on 20.03.2026

Annexure III State-wise details of cumulative number of people screened under National Sickle Cell

## Anaemia Elimination Mission (as on 15.03.2026)

| S.No.          | State Name   | Cumulative Number of people screened   |
|----------------|--------------|----------------------------------------|
| Chhattisgarh   | 1,73,52,532  | 1                                      |
| Madhya Pradesh | 1,30,97,122  | 2                                      |
| Maharashtra    | 1,00,33,422  | 3                                      |
| Gujarat        | 80,23,780    | 4                                      |
| Odisha         | 62,71,477    | 5                                      |
| Rajasthan      | 37,06,695    | 6                                      |
| Jharkhand      | 27,88,493    | 7                                      |
| West Bengal    | 25,00,170    | 8                                      |
| Andhra Pradesh | 14,89,997    | 9                                      |
| Assam          | 11,82,605    | 10                                     |
| Telangana      | 11,37,233    | 11                                     |
| Uttar Pradesh  | 7,64,871     | 12                                     |
| Tamil Nadu     | 4,51,564     | 13                                     |
| Karnataka      | 3,57,266     | 14                                     |
| Bihar          | 2,40,334     | 15                                     |
| Uttarakhand    | 1,53,670     | 16                                     |
| Kerala         | 1,77,959     | 17                                     |
| Total          |              | 6,97,29,190                            |

Source: SCD Portal