Model Answer
0 min readIntroduction
Stunting and wasting are critical indicators of malnutrition among children, reflecting chronic and acute undernutrition respectively. Stunting, defined as low height-for-age, signifies long-term nutritional deprivation and impaired cognitive development, while wasting, indicated by low weight-for-height, reflects recent and severe weight loss. Both are major consequences of food insecurity, encompassing inadequate food availability, access, and utilization. According to the National Family Health Survey-5 (2019-21), 31.7% of children under 5 years are stunted and 19.3% are wasted in India, highlighting the persistent challenge. The Government of India has launched several schemes to combat these issues, aiming to improve the nutritional status of children and ensure food security for all.
Government Schemes Addressing Stunting and Wasting
1. Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme (1975)
The ICDS is a flagship program providing a package of services – supplementary nutrition, pre-school education, immunization, health check-ups, and nutrition & health education – to children under six years and pregnant/lactating mothers. It aims to improve the nutritional status of children and reduce stunting, wasting, and underweight prevalence.
- Key Features: Anganwadi centers are the delivery points for ICDS services.
- Achievements: ICDS has contributed to improved immunization coverage and increased awareness about nutrition. However, the quality of supplementary nutrition and service delivery varies significantly across states.
2. Poshan Abhiyaan (National Nutrition Mission) (2018)
Launched as a part of the umbrella ICDS scheme, Poshan Abhiyaan aims to improve nutritional outcomes for children, pregnant women and lactating mothers during the first 1000 days of life. It adopts a convergent approach, involving various ministries and departments.
- Key Features: Focus on monitoring growth, promoting breastfeeding, improving dietary diversity, and addressing micronutrient deficiencies. It utilizes a Growth Monitoring and Promotion (GMP) app for real-time data collection.
- Achievements: Poshan Abhiyaan has shown improvements in growth monitoring coverage and awareness about nutrition. The mission aims to reduce stunting by 2% per year.
3. Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) (2017)
A maternity benefit program providing financial assistance to pregnant women and lactating mothers to improve their health and nutrition. It aims to address maternal and child undernutrition.
- Key Features: Provides direct benefit transfer (DBT) of ₹5,000 in three installments upon fulfilling specific conditions related to antenatal care.
- Achievements: PMMVY has improved access to antenatal care and encouraged institutional deliveries. It indirectly contributes to reducing stunting and wasting by improving maternal health.
4. Mid-Day Meal (MDM) Scheme (formerly National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education) (1995)
Provides nutritious cooked meals to children in primary and upper primary schools. It aims to improve enrollment, retention, and nutritional status of school-going children.
- Key Features: Provides a minimum of 450 calories and 12 grams of protein per child per day.
- Achievements: MDM has significantly increased school enrollment and attendance rates, particularly among girls and children from marginalized communities. It has also contributed to improved nutritional status, although the quality of meals varies.
5. National Food Security Act (NFSA) (2013)
Provides subsidized food grains to a large section of the population, ensuring food security and access to adequate nutrition. It aims to reduce hunger and malnutrition.
- Key Features: Entitles eligible households to 5 kg of food grains per person per month at subsidized prices.
- Achievements: NFSA has improved food security for millions of households, reducing the incidence of hunger and malnutrition. However, issues related to targeting, distribution, and quality of food grains remain.
6. Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) (2005)
A conditional cash transfer scheme aimed at promoting institutional deliveries and improving maternal and child health. It indirectly contributes to reducing malnutrition by ensuring access to healthcare services.
- Key Features: Provides financial assistance to pregnant women for delivering in a health institution.
- Achievements: JSY has significantly increased the rate of institutional deliveries, leading to improved maternal and child health outcomes.
Challenges and Way Forward
Despite these schemes, stunting and wasting remain significant challenges. Challenges include inadequate inter-departmental coordination, poor monitoring and evaluation, variations in implementation quality across states, and limited community participation. Strengthening the ICDS infrastructure, improving the quality of supplementary nutrition, enhancing monitoring mechanisms, and promoting behavioral change communication are crucial steps. Addressing social determinants of malnutrition, such as poverty, sanitation, and access to clean water, is also essential.
Conclusion
Addressing stunting and wasting requires a sustained and multi-sectoral approach. While the Government of India has implemented several schemes to tackle these issues, their effectiveness needs to be continuously monitored and improved. Strengthening convergence between different departments, ensuring quality service delivery, promoting community participation, and addressing the underlying social determinants of malnutrition are crucial for achieving the goal of a malnutrition-free India. Investing in early childhood development and empowering women are also vital components of a comprehensive strategy.
Answer Length
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