problem of malnutrition

The problem of malnutrition is multi-dimensional and multi-sectoral in nature. The Government is implementing several schemes which have an impact on the nutritional status of the people. 
 

                  The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Schemes is being implemented by Ministry of Women and Child Development through state Governments/UT Administrations.

                  The scheme provides a package of six services, namely supplementary nutrition, pre-school non-formal education, nutrition & health education, immunization, health check-up and referral services. Three of the six services namely immunization, health check-up and referral services are delivered through the public health system of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

            The Government has recently taken various steps which include univesalisation of the schemes with special focus on SC/ST and minority habitations, revision in cost norms as well as the Nutritional and Feeding norms of the Supplementary Nutrition component of ICDS.

Besides the ICDS, the Government is implementing a number of other schemes throughout the country, which directly or indirectly affect the nutritional status of women and children. Some of these are as follows. 

Reproductive & Child Health Programme under the National Rural Health Mission being implemented by the ministry of Health & Family Welfare has interventions which include Janani Surasksha Yojana (JSY) to promote institutional deliveries; Immunization; Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illness; Specific Programmes to prevent and combat micronutrient deficiencies of Vitamin A and Iron& Folic Acid through Vitamin A supplementation of children till the age of 5 years and Iron & Folic acid.

(i)             Iron and folic acid supplementation for infant, pre-school children adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating women; iodized salt is being provided for combating Iodine Deficiency Disorders.

(ii)            Mid-Day Meal programme of Department of School Education and Literacy.

(iii)           Nutrition Programme for Adolescent Girls and Kisori Shakti Yojna of Ministry of Women and Child Development.

(iv)          Availability of essential food items at subsidized cost through Targeted public Distribution System and Antodaya Anna Yojna by Department of Food and Consumer Affairs.

(v)           Provision of safe drinking water under the National Drinking Water Programme and sanitation under the Total Sanitation Campaign of Ministry of Rural Development etc.