FAO sees 34.9% reduction in malnutrition in India between 1990-92 and 2010-12: minister

Malnutrition and undernourishment in India declined at a faster rate of 34.9 per cent over a 10-year period between 1990-92 and 2010-12, according to the UN Food Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

The percentage of undernourished people in India came down from 26.9 per cent in 1990-92 to 17.5 per cent in 2010-12, according to FAO's latest report, 'The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2012', minister for women and child development Krishna Tirath informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply today.

According to the FAO report the percentage of undernourished in the country steadily declined from 26.9 per cent in 1990-92 to 20.9 per cent in 2004-06 and further to 19.0 per cent in 2007-09 before declining to 17.5 per cent in 2010-12.

Since the problem of malnutrition is complex, multi-dimensional and inter-generational in nature, it cannot be improved by a single sector alone, the minister said, adding that the approach to deal with nutrition challenges has been two pronged – a multi-sectoral targeted nutritional programme and direct and specific interventions targeting vulnerable groups such as children below 6 years, adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating mothers.

Besides, the various government ministries and departments are implementing several schemes/programmes through state governments and union territory administrations. These include as direct targeted interventions such as the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), Mid-Day Meal Scheme (MDM), Rajiv Gandhi Schemes for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (RGSEAG), ie, SABLA and the Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojna (IGMSY).

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), Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan, National Rural Drinking Water Programme etc.

Several of the schemes such as ICDS, NRHM, MDM, SGSY have been expanded post 2005-06. All these schemes have the potential to address one or other aspect of nutrition, she pointed out.

With a view to improve delivery of nutrition the government has decided to strengthen and restructure of the ICDS with special focus on pregnant and lactating mothers and children under three. It has also undertaken a multi-sectoral programme to address the maternal and child malnutrition in selected 200 high-burden districts. Besides it is undertaking a nationwide information, education and communication campaign bringing in strong nutrition focus in ministries dealing with health, drinking water supply and sanitation, school education, agriculture and food and public distribution.

The ICDS has been universalised with effect from 2008-09.
Recently, the government has approved the strengthening and restructuring of ICDS with special focus on pregnant and lactating mothers and children under three. The restructured and strengthened ICDS has been rolled out in three phases with focus on the 200 high burden districts for malnutrition during 2012-13 and additional 200 districts in 2013-14 including districts from the special category states and North Eastern Region( NER) and the remaining districts in 2014-15.

The government has also launched an information, education and communication (IEC) campaign against malnutrition for generating awareness on key nutrition issues with effect from 28 December 2012.

The proposed National Food Security Bill, introduced in the Lok Sabha will also contribute towards food security. Government has also announced a pilot programme of Nutri-Farms for introducing new crop varieties that are rich in micro-nutrients such as iron-rich bajra, protein-rich maize and zinc-rich wheat, the minister added.