Battling Kuposhan (Malnutrition) in India: A Journey Towards Health and Hope
Government Initiative in tackling Malnutrition-"Empowering India's Future: Together Towards Suposhan"
Malnutrition, often referred to as Kuposhan, is a pressing concern that continues to cast a shadow over the lives of countless children and families in India. In this article, we delve into the nuances of this multifaceted issue and explore the various initiatives taken by the government to combat it. As we journey through the dimensions of malnutrition, we discover not just the grim statistics, but also the rays of hope that promise a brighter, healthier future for India's children.
Unpacking Malnutrition:
Kuposhan, or malnutrition, isn't just about the lack of food; it's about the lack of essential nutrients that growing bodies need. It takes different forms, such as undernutrition, micronutrient-related malnutrition, and the alarming rise of overweight and obesity. But why does malnutrition persist in India, and what are its roots?
Classification of Malnutrition
- · Undernutrition:-Wasting, stunting, underweight and vitamin & mineral deficiencies are the four categories of undernutrition
- Micronutrient-related malnutrition:-Micronutrients help the body to produce enzymes, hormones and substances that are essential for proper growth and development. Vitamin A, iron, and iodine deficiency represent a principal threat to the health and development of children and pregnant women populations across the globe.
- · Overweight and obesity:- A person is said to be obese or overweight when he/she is too heavy. Body. A BMI of 25 or more in adults suggests being overweight, and a BMI of 30 or more suggests being obese.
Causes of Malnutrition in India:-
· Malnutrition occurs for many
reason.
· Malnutrition may develop
when less amount of food is taken in. Lack of food is much common among people
with low income.
· People with a lesser
knowledge about nutrition might follow a diet with not enough nutrients,
vitamins and minerals and are at risk of malnutrition.
· Lack of adequate knowledge
of feeding is the leading cause of malnutrition among children worldwide.
An Account of
Malnutrition in India:-
· The first National Family
Health Survey (NFHS) of 1992-93 found that India was one of the
worst-performing countries on indicators of child health.
· According to the Food and
Agriculture Organization(FAO) report, about 194.4 million people in India
(14.5% of the population) are undernourished.
· In the Global Hunger Index 2019 rankings, India
is ranked 102 out of 117 countries.
· According to the government
figures for 2015-16, 22.9% of women in the 15-29 age group were underweight
when compared to 20.2% of men in the same age group.
· As per the data of The State
of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2020, in 2016, about 51.4% of women
of reproductive age in India were suffering from anemia.
· About 60 million children,
roughly about 50% of children in India, are underweight, 45% are stunted, 21%
are wasted, 57% are vitamin A deficient, and 75% are anemic.
· As per the data released by
UNICEF, India is at the 10th spot and 17th spot among countries with the
highest number of underweight and stunted children, respectively.
· The states of Rajasthan,
Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh have the highest number of underweight
childbirths in India.
· As per the Indian Council of
Medical Research (ICMR), in 2017, malnutrition was the predominant contributor
to the under-five mortality rate in every state of India.
· As per the statistics, undernutrition in India seems to be a gendered problem
Government Initiative in tackling Malnutrition
· Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS):-This scheme was launched by the Ministry of Women and Child Development on 2nd October 1975 is one of the world’s largest and unique programs for initial childhood care and development. The scheme targets vulnerable groups that include children of age 0-6 years, pregnant women and lactating mothers. It offers a package of six services, namely supplementary nutrition, immunization, health check-up, nutrition & health education, preschool non-formal education and referral services.
National Health Mission (NHM):-This scheme was launched by the Indian government’s Ministry of Health & Family Welfare in 2013.The main components of the scheme include strengthening of health systems in rural and urban areas for Reproductive-Maternal- Neonatal-Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCH+A) and for communicable and non-communicable diseases.
Mid-Day Meal Scheme:- This centrally sponsored scheme was launched in 1995 under the Department of School Education and Literacy for the nutritional betterment of school-age children. This covers all students studying in classes 1 to 8 of government & government-aided schools and special training centres.
Indira Gandhi Matritya Sahyog Yojna:-The Matritva Sahyog Yojna centrally sponsored scheme implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in 2010 is a Conditional Maternity Benefit (CMB) Scheme. This was launched for pregnant and lactating women to improve their health and nutrition status by providing cash incentives.
National Nutrition Policy 1993:- The National Nutrition Policy adopted under the Ministry of Women and Child Development is a flagship program to improve nutritional outcomes in children, pregnant women and lactating mothers. The scheme aims to reduce stunting and wasting by 2% a year among children and anemia by 3% a year among children, adolescent girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers.
Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana:- The scheme was launched in 2017, and its implementation is monitored through the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana-Common Application Software (PMMVY-CAS).Under the scheme, Rs. 6,000 is transferred to the bank accounts of pregnant women and lactating mothers to avail better facilities and is eligible for the family’s first child.
Well compiled . Can include NFHS 5 data too
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