Lok Sabha Question No. 3595 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-13
Subject: Health Equity and Maternal Child Outcomes
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Smt. Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo

## GOVERNMENT OFINDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3595 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13 th MARCH, 2026

## HEALTH EQUITY AND MATERNAL CHILD OUTCOMES

## 3595 SMT. SANGEETA KUMARI SINGH DEO:

## Will the MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has assessed evidence from Odisha showing a significant narrowing of gaps in institutional deliveries, antenatal care and immunisation outcomes among Scheduled Tribe communities and Kalahandi, Balangir, Koraput and surrounding districts like Kandhamal and Gajapati (KBK+ districts) compared to the state's average since the implementation of National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and allied interventions and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the data indicates that nutrition indicators among these communities have improved at a slower pace despite increased health spending and service coverage and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) Whether per capita public health expenditure levels, remaining below recommended benchmarks have been reviewed in the context of sustaining equity-focused gains in lowincome and tribal-dominated regions and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government has examined persisting challenges relating to human resources for health, gender-sensitive service delivery and inter-departmental coordination affecting maternal and child health outcomes in such districts of the country; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

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

- (a) The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW) conducts the National Family Health Survey (NFHS), an integrated survey that periodically provides estimates on various health indicators, including the percentage of institutional births,

antenatal care coverage, and immunization.

The details of the status of these indicators for the State of Odisha and KBK+ districts are placed at Annexure-I.

- (b) As per National Family Health Survey 4 (2015-16) and NFHS 5 (2019-21), status of nutrition indicators including scheduled tribes for the State of Odisha and KBK+ districts is placed at Annexure II.
- (c) As per the Economic Health survey of India, the per capita health expenditure of the country including low-income and tribal-dominated regions estimates stands at Rs. 6,602/- in FY 2021-22 as compared to Rs. 3,638/- in FY 2013-14.
- (d) & (e) In order to address challenges related to human resources for health, gendersensitive service delivery, and improving maternal and child health outcomes across the country, including tribal-dominated regions, inter-departmental coordination mechanisms are already in place between the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD), and Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA), as well as with State Health Departments, for effective planning, funding, and implementation of various health programmes.

Additionally, under National Health Mission, the Government of India provides technical and financial support to the States/UTs, to strengthen the public healthcare system across the country including low-income and tribal dominated regions, based on the proposals received from the respective States and UT in their Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs).

*****

## Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Q. No. 3595 to be answered on 13.03.2026

## Annexure-I

| Institutional delivery, antenatal care, and full immunization of Odisha and KBK+ districts   | Institutional delivery, antenatal care, and full immunization of Odisha and KBK+ districts   | Institutional delivery, antenatal care, and full immunization of Odisha and KBK+ districts   | Institutional delivery, antenatal care, and full immunization of Odisha and KBK+ districts   | Institutional delivery, antenatal care, and full immunization of Odisha and KBK+ districts   | Institutional delivery, antenatal care, and full immunization of Odisha and KBK+ districts   | Institutional delivery, antenatal care, and full immunization of Odisha and KBK+ districts   | Institutional delivery, antenatal care, and full immunization of Odisha and KBK+ districts   | Institutional delivery, antenatal care, and full immunization of Odisha and KBK+ districts   |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Indicators                                                                                   | Rounds of NFHS                                                                               | (among Schedul e Tribes)                                                                     | Odisha Total                                                                                 | Odisha Total                                                                                 | Odisha Total                                                                                 | Odisha Total                                                                                 | Odisha Total                                                                                 | Odisha Total                                                                                 |
|                                                                                              |                                                                                              |                                                                                              | Odish a                                                                                      | Balangir                                                                                     | Gajapati                                                                                     | Kalahandi                                                                                    | Kandhamal                                                                                    | Koraput                                                                                      |
| Percentage of live births in the                                                             | 5 NFHS-3 (2005-06)                                                                           | 11.7                                                                                         | 35.6                                                                                         | NA                                                                                           | NA                                                                                           | NA                                                                                           | NA                                                                                           | NA                                                                                           |
| years preceding the survey                                                                   | NFHS-4 (2015-16)                                                                             | 72.5                                                                                         | 85.4                                                                                         | 87.1                                                                                         | 63.3                                                                                         | 74.5                                                                                         | 72.7                                                                                         | 68.4                                                                                         |
| delivered in health facility                                                                 | a NFHS-5 (2019-21)                                                                           | 82.8                                                                                         | 92.2                                                                                         | 97.9                                                                                         | 76.4                                                                                         | 92.8                                                                                         | 93.9                                                                                         | 82.1                                                                                         |
| Percentage who had                                                                           | NFHS-3 # (2005-06)                                                                           | 46.0 #                                                                                       | 61.8 #                                                                                       | NA                                                                                           | NA                                                                                           | NA                                                                                           | NA                                                                                           | NA                                                                                           |
| four or more                                                                                 | NFHS-4 (2015-16)                                                                             | 59.9                                                                                         | 62.0                                                                                         | 76.5                                                                                         | 49.1                                                                                         | 46.7                                                                                         | 64.8                                                                                         | 58.4                                                                                         |
| ANC visits among women with a live birth in the 5 years preceding the survey                 | NFHS-5 (2019-21)                                                                             | 69.8                                                                                         | 78.1                                                                                         | 95.4                                                                                         | 83.0                                                                                         | 82.8                                                                                         | 81.1                                                                                         | 79.2                                                                                         |
| Children aged 12- 23 months fully                                                            | NFHS-3 (2005-06)                                                                             | 30.4                                                                                         | 51.8                                                                                         | NA                                                                                           | NA                                                                                           | NA                                                                                           | NA                                                                                           | NA                                                                                           |
| vaccinated based on information from either vaccination card or                              | NFHS-4 (2015-16)                                                                             | 74.4                                                                                         | 78.6                                                                                         | 93.0                                                                                         | 46.4                                                                                         | 88.2                                                                                         | 73.5                                                                                         | 67.1                                                                                         |
| mother's recall (%)                                                                          | 1 NFHS-5 (2019-21)                                                                           | 88.6                                                                                         | 90.5                                                                                         | (95.8)                                                                                       | 92.6                                                                                         | (91.3)                                                                                       | 96.8                                                                                         | 98.0                                                                                         |

Sources: NFHS-5 (2019-21) Odisha State Report, Table No. 52, 53, 46, 47, 59, 60; NFHS-4 (2015-16) Odisha State Report, Table No. 45, 46, 39, 40, 52, 53 and NFHS-3 (2005-06) Odisha State Report, Table No. 38, 35, 41 (https://www.nfhsiips.in/nfhsuser/publication.php) NA: Not Available

( ) Based on 25-49 unweighted cases.

# Percentage who had three or more ANC visits

1 BCG, measles, and three doses each of DPT/Penta and polio vaccine (excluding polio vaccine given at birth) in NFHS-5. In NFHS-3 and NFHS-4, fully vaccinated with BCG, measles, and three doses each of DPT and polio vaccine (excluding polio vaccine given at birth).

Annexure referred to in reply to part (b) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Q. No. 3595 to be answered on 13.03.2026

Annexure-II

| District Names   | Children under 5 years who are stunted (height-for-ag e) (%)   | Children under 5 years who are stunted (height-for-ag e) (%)   | Children under 5 years who are wasted (weight-for-he ight) (%)   | Children under 5 years who are wasted (weight-for-he ight) (%)   | Children under 5 years who are severely wasted (weight-for-he ight) (%)   | Children under 5 years who are severely wasted (weight-for-he ight) (%)   | Children under 5 years who are underweight (weight-for-ag e) (%)   | Children under 5 years who are underweight (weight-for-ag e) (%)   | Children age 6-59 months who are anaemic (<11.0 g/dl) (%)   | Children age 6-59 months who are anaemic (<11.0 g/dl) (%)   | All women age 15-49 years who are anaemic (%)   | All women age 15-49 years who are anaemic (%)   |
|------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|
| District Names   | NFHS 4                                                         | NFHS 5                                                         | NFHS 4                                                           | NFHS 5                                                           | NFHS 4                                                                    | NFHS 5                                                                    | NFHS 4                                                             | NFHS 5                                                             | NFHS 4                                                      | NFHS 5                                                      | NFHS 4                                          | NFHS 5                                          |
| Balangir         | 44.4                                                           | 32.7                                                           | 26.1                                                             | 25.5                                                             | 9.5                                                                       | 12.7                                                                      | 44.7                                                               | 37.6                                                               | 67.3                                                        | 74.9                                                        | 61                                              | 59.4                                            |
| Gajapati         | 32.5                                                           | 43.4                                                           | 18.4                                                             | 16.1                                                             | 4.8                                                                       | 4.3                                                                       | 32.1                                                               | 34.3                                                               | 57.9                                                        | 64.4                                                        | 58.5                                            | 66.1                                            |
| Kandhamal        | 38.3                                                           | 34.2                                                           | 23.1                                                             | 23.3                                                             | 8.4                                                                       | 12.4                                                                      | 43.1                                                               | 35.2                                                               | 42.7                                                        | 55.3                                                        | 52.7                                            | 48.9                                            |
| Kalahandi        | 36.6                                                           | 33.0                                                           | 24.8                                                             | 17.2                                                             | 9.0                                                                       | 6.0                                                                       | 39.1                                                               | 33.6                                                               | 67.2                                                        | 68.8                                                        | 68.7                                            | 64.2                                            |
| Koraput          | 40.3                                                           | 43.1                                                           | 28.5                                                             | 15.9                                                             | 8.3                                                                       | 6.8                                                                       | 44.4                                                               | 33.5                                                               | 71.4                                                        | 69.7                                                        | 63.3                                            | 58.2                                            |
| Scheduled tribe  | 45.4                                                           | 42.1                                                           | 27.8                                                             | 22.8                                                             | 8.8                                                                       | 8.5                                                                       | 48.5                                                               | 42.1                                                               | 58.4                                                        | 72.9                                                        | 63.3                                            | 71.7                                            |
| Odisha           | 34.1                                                           | 31                                                             | 20.4                                                             | 18.1                                                             | 6.4                                                                       | 6.1                                                                       | 34.4                                                               | 29.7                                                               | 44.6                                                        | 64.2                                                        | 51.0                                            | 64.3                                            |