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It has been more than four years since the Government of India launched its flagship programme National Nutrition Mission or Poshan Abhiyaan with an aim to improve nutritional outcomes for children, adolescent girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers in the country. That was a much-needed campaign as the country is notorious for malnutrition. However, findings by the government of India’s think tank NITI Aayog based on data from National Family Health Survey-4 (NFHS-4) (2015-2016) and NFHS-5 (2019-2021), showed that no significant improvement has been seen in nutritional intake over the years. According to the findings, stunting, wasting and underweight issues among children decreased marginally during 2019-2021 over 2015-2016, while severe wasting and anemia increased marginally. Anemia among non-pregnant women and pregnant women also show a marginal rise during the period at 57.2% and 52.2% respectively. The Centre’s target of reducing stunting among children under six years to 25% in 2022 through National Nutrition Mission appears to be a far cry as the figure, according to NITI Aayog, was 35.5% during 2019-2021. Though undernutrition rate in Nagaland is lower than the national average, stunting, wasting, severe wasting, underweight and anemia among children increased during 2019-2021; anemia among non-pregnant women marginally increased while anemia among pregnant dropped. This trend could be because of disruption in implementation of various government welfare schemes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic which started in 2020 but it is a matter of concern. To recover the lost ground, extra effort is required.
Meanwhile, Poshan Maah has been launched across the country with an aim to sensitise and create awareness about the importance of nutrition. The month-long event from September 1 to the 30th will witness intensive activities, outreach programmes, etc. with focus on the health of women, adolescent girls and children. However, it should not turn into a mere annual event without any visible change in the quality of life. To achieve its mission, the Centre should boost investment in women and children’s health and consolidate existing schemes like Integrated Child Development Services, National Health Mission and mid day meal. The country also should adopt outcome-oriented approach besides long-term policy like strengthening food security and supply chain in order to alleviate the burden of malnutrition. It is an open secret that most government schemes, including those meant for the poorest of the poor, do not reach those who need help and farmers living in remote areas. So, misappropriation of government funds and leakage of schemes should be checked in order to effectively address malnutrition and other problems faced by women, children and marginalised sections of society. It’s unfortunate that millions of Indians remain malnourished even after 75 years of independence.