Lok Sabha Question No. 2418 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-11
Subject: Malnutrition in Children
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: MAULANA BADRUDDIN AJMAL, A. ARUNMOZHITHEVAN, K. ASHOK KUMAR, RAYAPATI SAMBASIVA RAO, NEELAM SONKER, PASHUPATI NATH SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF WOMEN & CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2418

TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.03.2016

## MALNUTRITION IN CHILDREN

## 2418  SHRI BADRUDDIN AJMAL:

SHRI A. ARUNMOZHITHEVAN:

SHRI K. ASHOK KUMAR:

SHRI RAYAPATI SAMBASIVA RAO:

SHRIMATI NEELAM SONKER:

SHRI PASHUPATI NATH SINGH:

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

- (a)  whether  Government  is  aware  that  malnutrition  in  India  has  declined  but continues to be among the highest in the world;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c)  the  details  of  the  schemes  implemented  by  the  Government  to  address  the problem of malnutrition in the country, State-wise including Uttar Pradesh and Bihar;
- (d) whether the Government has adequate monitoring mechanism to ensure that the funds allocated for such schemes reach the targeted beneficiaries;
- (e) if so, the details thereof;
- (f) whether the Government proposes to strengthen the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme by initiating  capacity  building  measures  for Anganwadi workers by providing them promotional abilities; and
- (g) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI MANEKA SANJAY GANDHI)

- (a)  &  (b)  As  per  nutrition  data  available  for  children  under  5  years  of  age  from National  Family  Health  Survey  NFHS-3  (2005-06),  commissioned  by  Ministry  of Health and Family Welfare, 42.5% are underweight, 48.0% are stunted and 19.8% are  wasted  which  has  come  down  substantially  as  per  Rapid  Survey  of  Children (RSoC),  2013-14  commissioned  by  Ministry  of  Women  and  Child  Development, 29.4% are underweight, 38.7% are stunted and 15.1% are wasted. These figures are

not highest in the world as evident upon examination of the UNICEF Report 'State of the World's Children 2015'.

Malnutrition  is  complex,  multi-dimensional  and  inter-generational  in  nature, needing  convergence  of  interventions,  coordination  and  concerted  action  from various  sectors.  The  causes  are  inadequate  access  to  food,  health  services,  safe drinking water, sanitation and environmental conditions, educational levels, income and socio-cultural factors like early marriage, etc.  Situation is further compounded by  ignorance  about  nutritional  needs  of  infants  and  young  children  and  repeated infections.

(c)  The  Government  has  accorded  high  priority  to  the  issue  of  malnutrition  and  is implementing several schemes/programmes  of  different Ministries/Departments through State Governments/UT Administrations including in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

This Ministry is implementing programmes such as ICDS, RGSEAG namely 'Sabla', and IGMSY as direct targeted interventions. The details of these schemes are available in the Annual Report (2014-15) of the Ministry, which is available in the Library of the House and is also available on the Ministry's website, www.wcd.nic.in.

Besides, Food and Nutrition Board (FNB) of the Ministry of Women and Child Development  with  its  43  field  units  in  India  is  engaged  in  creating  awareness  in nutrition  in  collaboration  with  State  Government  /  institutions  through  exhibitions; advertisement in audio-visual and print medium; lectures promoting the consumption of balanced diets and inclusion of fruits and vegetables in the daily diets in addition to demonstrations of low cost nutritious recipes using locally available foods; training of field functionaries and training in food preservation for grassroots level workers; celebration of nutrition related events, etc.

All  these  schemes have potential to address one or other aspect related to Nutrition including nutrition of children.

(d)  &  (e)  The  monitoring  and  supervision  mechanism  set  up  under  the  Integrated Child  Development  Services  (ICDS)  Scheme  is  used  for  the  scheme  'Sabla'  and IGMSY  as  well,  to  ensure  that  the  funds  allocated  for  such  schemes  reach  the targeted beneficiaries. Performance of the scheme is reviewed on a quarterly/annual basis to identify gaps and for taking corrective measures. Monitoring committees are set up at all levels (National, State, District, Block and Village level) to strengthen the coordination & convergence between concerned departments and take stock of the progress of the scheme.

Moreover,  the  scheme  guidelines  also  provide  for  field  visits  by  the  State Officials/District Programme Officer (DPO)/Child Development Project Officer (CDPO)/Supervisors as per the supervision schedule under ICDS.

(f) & (g) The ICDS Scheme has been restructured in 2012 which includes capacity building.    The  guidelines  for  filling  up  vacancies  in  the  grade  of  Supervisors  have been  revised  on  15 th September,  2015  to  provide  for  50%  of  the  vacancies,  as against  25%  earlier,  in  the  grade  of  Supervisors  to  be  filled  from  promotion  of Anganwadi Workers with requisite qualifications & experience.

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