Lok Sabha Question No. 5652 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-27
Subject: Anaemia Mukt Bharat
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Dr. T Sumathy Alias Thamizhachi Thangapandian

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5652 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 27 TH MARCH 2026

## ANAEMIAMUKT BHARAT

## 5652. DR. T SUMATHY ALIAS THAMIZHACHI THANGAPANDIAN:

Will the Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that under Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) the target is to achieve an annual 3 per cent reduction in prevalence of anaemia including among children, adolescent girls and pregnant women and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the details of anaemia prevalence in Tamil Nadu among children aged 6 -59 months, adolescent girls, women of reproductive age and pregnant women in the country;
- (c) the details of the funds released to Tamil Nadu under AMB and related programmes such as Weekly Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation (WIFS) and National Iron Plus Initiative (NIPI) during the last two years till date; and
- (d) the steps taken by the Government to support States in achieving anaemia reduction targets in high-prevalence districts?

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

(a) and (d) The Government of India implements Anemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) strategy to reduce prevalence of anemia among six beneficiaries age group - children (6-59 months), children (5-9 years), adolescents (10-19 years), pregnant and lactating women and in women of reproductive age group (15-49 years) in life cycle approach through implementation of six interventions via robust institutional mechanism. These six interventions include Prophylactic Iron and Folic Acid supplementation (IFA Syrup provided biweekly to Children 6-59 months, IFA Pink tablets provided to Children 5-9 years, IFA Blue tablets provided to Adolescent 1019 years, IFA Red tablets provided weekly to Women of Reproductive age group and IFA Red tablets daily for 180 days provided to pregnant women and lactating mothers), Deworming (Pregnant women provided albendazole tablet in second trimester and all children provided albendazole tablets during National Deworming Day), Intensified Behavioural Change Communication campaign, Testing for anemia and treatment as per anemia management protocols, Mandatory provision of IFA fortified food in public health programmes and Addressing non nutritional causes of anemia especially malaria, fluorosis and hemoglobinopathies.

Additional interventions include digital interventions, active review and monitoring anaemic beneficiaries with follow-up by ASHA, ANM at field level and IEC activities. 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 across the country including districts with high prevalence of anemia.

- (b) As per National Family Health Survey 5 (2019-21), anaemia prevalence among children 6 to 59 months, adolescent girls, women of reproductive age and pregnant women in the state of Tamil Nadu and India is placed in annexure.
- (c) The States are provided funds by the National Health Mission based on the proposals received in their Annual Programme Implementation Plans. Under NHM, funds allocated to the State of Tamil Nadu to implement various activities under Anemia Mukt Bharat programme and Weekly Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation (WIFS) for the FY 2023-24 and FY 2024-25 is placed below.

| Financial Year   |   SPIP Approvals towards Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) and Weekly Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation (WIFS) underNHM (In Rs. Lakhs) |
|------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| FY 2023-24       |                                                                                                                          1296.58 |
| FY 2024-25       |                                                                                                                           782.89 |

## Annexure referred to the reply to part (b) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 5652 for answer on 27.03.2026

## Annexure

|   S. No. | Indicator                                                           |   Tamil Nadu |   India |
|----------|---------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------|---------|
|        1 | Children age 6-59 months who are anaemic (<11.0 g/dl) (%)           |         57.4 |    67.1 |
|        2 | All women age 15-19 years who are anaemic (%)                       |         52.9 |    59.1 |
|        3 | Non-pregnant women age 15-49 years who are anaemic (<12.0 g/dl) (%) |         53.6 |    57.2 |
|        4 | Pregnant women age 15-49 years who are anaemic (<11.0 g/dl) (%)     |         48.3 |    52.2 |

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