Lok Sabha Question No. 3305 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-05
Subject: Malnutrition in Tribal Children
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: SURESH KODIKUNNIL, J. JAYASINGH THIYAGARAJ NATTERJEE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED  QUESTION NO. 3305 TO BE ANSWERED ON 5 TH AUGUST, 2016

## MALNUTRITION IN TRIB AL CHILDREN

## 3305. SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH:

## SHRI J.J.T. NATTERJEE:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  noticed  the  death  of  tribal  children  due  to  malnutriti severe anaemia across the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof d uring the last three years, State/UT -wise; and
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to reduce the menace of malnutrition and anaemia am tribal children and the status thereon?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

(SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE)

- (a)& (b) : Malnutrition  is  not  a  direct  cause  of  death  among  children  but  can  incr morbidity and mortality by reducing the resistance to infections. However, it is estima malnutrition is a contributing factor in about 45% of all deaths in under -five children in India.
- (c ): The following interventions are being undertaken under the Reproductive and Chi Health  Programme  of  National  Health  Mission,  and  funds  are  being  provided  each  year carryin g  out  following  set  of  activities  towards  reducing  malnutrition  and  anaemia  am children including tribal children:
- Promotion of appropriate infant and young child feeding practices that include early in of breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeed ing till 6 months of age through ASHA worker and health care provider at health facilities.
- Management of malnutrition and common neonatal and childhood illnesses at community and  facility  level  by  training  service  providers  in  IMNCI  (Integrated  Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illnesses) training.

Contd…….

- Treatment of sick children with severe acute malnutrition at special units called the Rehabilitation Centres (NRCs), set up at public health facilities. Presently 960 such are  functional  in  26  States  and  UTs.  Incentive  to  ASHA  for  tracking  of  SAM  child discharged from NRCs
- Vitamin A supplementation for children aged 6 months to 5 years.
- Village  Health  and  Nutrition  Days  and  Mother  and  Child  Protection  Card  are  the  j t initiative of the Ministries of Health & Family welfare and the Ministry of Woman and for  addressing  the  nutrition  concerns  in  children,  pregnant  women  and  lactating  mot Monthly Village Health and Nutrition Days (VHND) are monthly days held at village level in Anganwadi centre where nutrition education is given to increase the awareness and about desired changes in the dietary practices including the promotion of breastfeeding
- 'National Iron Plus Initiative' has been launched as an effec tive strategy for iron folic acid supplementation and treatment of anaemia in children, adolescents, pregnant and lact women, in programme mode through life cycle approach.
- Promotion  for  intake  of  iodised  of  salt  and  monitoring  salt  quality  through  t esting  under National Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Programme
- Under  the  Rashtriya  Bal  Swasthya  Karyakram  (RBSK)  and  Rashtriya  Kishore  Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK), systematic efforts are undertaken to detect nutrition deficiency am children and adol escents respectively and they are treated/ referred appropriately.
- Ministry of Women and Child Development is implementing Integrated Child Development Services  (ICDS)  Scheme,  'Rajiv  Gandhi  Scheme  for  Empowerment  of  Ado lescent  Girls (RGSEAG) -'Sabla',and In diraGandhi Matritva SahyogYojana (IGMSY) as direct targeted interventions to address  the  problem of  malnutrition  among women  and children Additionally,  the  Food  and  Nutrition  Board  of  the  Ministry  of  Women  and  Chil Development  is  engaged  in  conducting  t raining  programmes  in  nutrition.  The  Board  also generates awareness through nutrition education programmes on the importance of heal balanced  diets  especially  through  the  use  of  locally  available  foods,  mass  awar campaigns and use of electronic and print media. The main aim of all these activities is t improve  nutritional  outcomes  and  bring  down  the  level  of  malnutrition  in  the  cou especially amongst women and children.

The  Ministry  of  Tribal  Affairs  has  been  focusing  on  universal  acc ess  to  basic  health facilities for tribal population including improving their nutritional status with speci children.

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