Lok Sabha Question No. 5571 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-27
Subject: Functioning of Child Health Division
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Smt. Anita Nagarsingh Chouhan

## GOVERNMENT OFINDIA

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5571 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27 TH MARCH 2026

## FUNCTIONING OF CHILD HEALTH DIVISION

## † 5571. SMT. ANITANAGARSINGHCHOUHAN:

Will the Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Child Health Division is functioning under the Ministry with the objective of strengthening neonatal, infant, and adolescent health services in the country, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the details of the major programme and schemes being implemented by said social Division along with the total number of children benefited under the said programmes and schemes in the country, particularly in Madhya Pradesh and specifically within the Parliamentary constituency No. 24 Ratlam-Jhabua-Alirajpur;
- (c) whether any special initiatives have been taken to address malnutrition, immunisation, screening for congenital diseases, and the reduction of Child Mortality Rate (CMR), if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether it is proposed to enhance the accessibility of child health services through additional resources, Mobile Health Units (MHUs), the appointment of specialist doctors and the conduct of special training programmes in the said Parliamentary Constituency; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

(a) The Child Health Division in the Ministry is established with the objective to improve child survival, health and development and reduce neonatal, infant and under-five mortality and morbidity through implementation of child health interventions under the Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health and Nutrition (RMNCAH+N) Strategy of the National Health Mission.

(b) The details of interventions to improve health outcome of the children all across the country including State of Madhya Pradesh, are as follows:

-  Promotion of institutional deliveries through cash incentive under Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY);
-  Under Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK), pregnant mother and sick infants up to one year of age are entitled to free treatment in public health institutions along with the provision of free transport, diagnostics, medicines, blood and consumables;
-  Establishment of Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs)/Special Newborn Care Units (SNCU) and Newborn Stabilization Units (NBSUs) at district and sub-district level to provide specialized care to sick and small babies;
-  Home Based Newborn Care (HBNC) and Home Based Care of Young Child (HBYC) provided by ASHAs to improve child rearing practices;
-  Mothers' Absolute Affection programme (MAA) to promote early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding for first six months;
-  Promotion of ORS and Zinc for management of diarrhoea in children under STOP Diarrhoea Campaign;
-  Early screening, identification and management of pneumonia under Social Awareness and Actions to Neutralize Pneumonia Successfully (SAANS);
-  Under Universal Immunization Programme, provision of 11 vaccines to protect children against 12 vaccine-preventable diseases;
-  In addition, Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) provides child health screening and early intervention services for defects, diseases, deficiencies and delays to improve the quality of survival.

The details of children benefitted under various child health schemes are placed at Annexure.

(c) To address malnutrition, Ministry of Women and Child Development implement Mission Saksham Anganwadi and POSHAN 2.0, an integrated nutrition support programme to provide supplementary nutrition to children (6 months-6 years), pregnant women and lactating mothers, with emphasis on improved nutritional content, fortified food and strengthening of Anganwadi services.

Under the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP), the Government provides 11 vaccines against 12 Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPDs) free of cost to children and pregnant women, in public health facilities.

Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) is a program under the National Health Mission for early identification and management of 4DsDefect at birth, Diseases, Deficiencies and Developmental delays among children from birth to 18 years. Children diagnosed with identified health conditions are provided early intervention services and follow-up care.

(d) and (e) Under the National Health Mission (NHM), financial and technical support is provided to States and Union Territories, including State of Madhya Pradesh to improve accessibility and child health outcomes. This includes provision of Mobile Medical Units

(MMUs) in hard-to-reach and underserved areas, engagement of specialist and contractual health staff, strengthening of health infrastructure and capacitybuilding for healthcare providers to improve maternal and child health services.

The assistance under the National Health Mission to a particular area, including the Ratlam-Jhabua-Alirajpur Parliamentary Constituency, is provided based on the proposal submitted by the State Government in their Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) and subject to approval as per norms.

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Annexure

## Annexure referred to in reply to part (b) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Q. No. 5571 to be answered on 27th March 2026

| Name of Program/                        |                                                                                                                                      | No. of beneficiaries FY25-26 (Till Feb 2026)   | No. of beneficiaries FY25-26 (Till Feb 2026)   | No. of beneficiaries FY25-26 (Till Feb 2026)   | No. of beneficiaries FY25-26 (Till Feb 2026)   |
|-----------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
| Scheme                                  | Particulars                                                                                                                          | Madhya Pradesh                                 | Alirajp ur                                     | Jhabua                                         | Ratlam                                         |
| RBSK (Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram) | Number of Children screened by RBSK mobile health teams                                                                              | 10224333                                       | 81123                                          | 121026                                         | 112936                                         |
| UIP (Universal Immunization Programme)  | Number of Full immunised Children under Universal Immunization Programme                                                             | 1684692                                        | 17494                                          | 33124                                          | 31452                                          |
| HBNC (Home Based Newborn Care)          | Number of beneficiaries- Neonates (under ASHA Program- HBNC)                                                                         | 1017413                                        | 14688                                          | 28552                                          | 20850                                          |
| HBYC (Home Based Young Child Care)      | Number of beneficiaries- Infants (under ASHA Program- HBYC)                                                                          | 3274530                                        | 53141                                          | 78753                                          | 68335                                          |
| SNCU (Special Newborn Care Unit)        | Number of beneficiaries- Neonates treated in SNCU                                                                                    | 129256                                         | 1911                                           | 2506                                           | 1906                                           |
| NBSU (Newborn Stabilization Unit)       | Number of beneficiaries- Neonates treated in NBSU                                                                                    | 43080                                          | 383                                            | 1400                                           | 714                                            |
| PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit)    | Number of beneficiaries - Children treated in PICU                                                                                   | 110253                                         | 334                                            | 1279                                           | 1896                                           |
| NRC (Nutrition Rehabilitation Center)   | Number of beneficiaries- Admitted in NRC                                                                                             | 75222                                          | 1396                                           | 1721                                           | 1477                                           |
| AMB (Ayushman Bharat)                   | Number of Beneficiaries under the Anemia Mukt Bharat Program for IFA Supplementation (6M to 19 Ychildren &adolescents)               | 12861837                                       | 213581                                         | 290817                                         | 230631                                         |
| NDD (National Deworming Day)            | Number of Beneficiaries under the National Deworming Day Program for Albendazole administration (1 to 19 Year children& adolescents) | 28336002                                       | 357712                                         | 621733                                         | 570501                                         |
| VAS (Vitamin A Supplementation)         | Number of Beneficiaries under the vitamin A Supplementation (9 Mto 5year children)                                                   | 7080051                                        | 71670                                          | 135815                                         | 138016                                         |
| MAA(Mothers' Absolute Affection)        | Number of Pregnant and Lactating Mothers counseled for optimal infant and young child feeding practices by ASHAs                     | 2485688                                        | 33303                                          | 2990                                           | 6132                                           |
| RKSK                                    | RKSK Total Clients Registered Under AFHCs                                                                                            | 554744                                         | 11475                                          | 20610                                          | 6670                                           |