UNDERNUTRITION IN INDIA: STATUS AND GOVERNMENT INITIATIVE

Abstract:

Children are vulnerable segment of population and future of a nation. Their health is nation’s wealth. Nutrition plays a very important role in growth and development of children. Undernutrition has become a major health problem in India. It silently destroys the future productivity of nation. Undernutrition is developing due to improper breastfeeding practices, food myths, delayed introduction of complementary foods and insufficient parental nutritional knowledge. Children are always at a high risk of undernutrition and other health problems in slum and rural areas. According to National Family Health survey (2019-20) the prevalence of stunting (low height for age), wasting (low weight for height) and underweight (low weight for age) were found 44.7 percent, 19.3 percent and 34.8 percent respectively. It can be conclude that malnutrition affects the social and economic development of country. In India, where poverty, maternal illiteracy, Low birth weight, diarrohea, residential environment, dietary practices and poor hygienic factors are responsible for nutrition. Government of India has initiated various community nutritional programme to overcome undernutrition but present scenario of undernutrition indicates that there is a long way to go to abolish this issue. Coordinated and holistic approach with a collective efforts of government, concerned authorities and the citizens for bringing out the desired results.