Lok Sabha Question No. 1954 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-07-31
Subject: Under-Nourishment
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: NANDI YELLAIAH

**GOVERNMENT OF INDIA**

**MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE**

**DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE**

**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1954**

**TO BE ANSWERED ON 31** **ST** **JULY, 2015**

**Under-Nourishment**

**1954. SHRI NANDI YELLAIAH:**

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

(a) whether the country is set to achieve the target of Millennium Development Goal set by Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) regarding halving the prevalence of under-nourishment by 2015;

(b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(c) whether the Government has taken note of the report titled "The State of Food Insecurity in the world 2015" according to which India tops world hunger list with 194 million people; and

(d) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto along with the steps taken/being taken by the Government to mitigate the menace of under-nourishment in the country ?

**ANSWER**

**THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE**

**(SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA)**

(a) & (b):	As  per National Family Health Survey -3, 2005-06 the proportion of malnourished children in under five age group was 42.5 percent and has reduced to 29.4 percent, as per Rapid Survey of Children in 2012-13. The latest data on under –three age group for malnourished children is not available.

(c) & (d):	Yes. As per the report, India tops world hunger list with 194 million people.

The Government has accorded high priority to the issue of malnutrition in the country and is implementing several schemes/programmes of different Ministries/Departments through States Government/UT Administrations. The schemes/programmes include the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), National Nutrition Mission i.e. Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Campaign against Malnutrition, Multi-sectoral Nutrition Programme, National Health Mission (NHM), Mid-Day Meal Scheme(MDM), Rajiv Gandhi Schemes for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (RGSEAG) namely SABLA,  Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojna (IGMSY) as direct targeted interventions. Besides, indirect Multi-sectoral interventions include Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), National Horticulture Mission, National Food Security Mission, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), Swachch Bharat Abhiyan, National Rural Drinking Water Programme etc. All these schemes have potential to address one or other aspect of Nutrition.

The following specific activities are being implemented under the National Health Mission of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and the Integrated Child Development Scheme of Ministry of Women and Child Development to reduce malnutrition:

1. Promotion of appropriate infant and young child feeding practices that include early initiation of breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding till 6 months of age.

2. 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.

3. Treatment of sick children with severe acute malnutrition at special units called the Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres (NRCs), set up at public health facilities. Presently 899 such centres are functional.

4. Micronutrient supplementation such as Vitamin A and Iron Folic Acid for children from 6 months to 5 years.

5. Village Health and Nutrition Days and Mother and Child Protection Card are the joint initiative of the Ministries of Health & Family welfare and the Ministry of Woman and Child for addressing the nutrition concerns in children, pregnant women and lactating mothers. Monthly Village Health and Nutrition Days (VHND) are monthly days held at village level in Anganwadi centre to increase the awareness and bring about desired changes in the dietary practices including the promotion of breastfeeding.

6. Promotion for intake of iodised salt and monitoring salt quality through testing under National Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Programme.

7. The Universal Immunisation Programme includes vaccines such as DPT, Measles and BCG that protect children against life threatening diseases.

8. Under Integrated Child Development Services Scheme, Supplementary Nutrition is provided to bridge the gap between the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) and Average Dietary Intake (ADI).