(~~~~~) mffi ~l - Ministry of Women and Child Development

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CHAMAN KUMAR
JOINT SECRETARY
F.No.16-10/2005-ME A=NN~Jl)i'.$ N
Fax No. :23381495
Fax No.: 23381800
Fax No.: 23381654
Tele~,"ms: WOMEN CHILD
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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOUr1CE DEVELOPMENr
(DEPARTMENT OF WOMEN & CHILD DEVELOPMENT)
17.10.2005
TeL23386227 >rw.ft 'FA, "~ fi:c~ -- 110001,fu-'Ii'li---------
Shast,' Bhawan, New Delhi-110001, Dated
Dear
As you are well aware that the large scale prevalence of malnotrition in children, in
our country is a cause of concern for all 01 us. The NFHS-lI, which was conducted in 1998-
99, estimated that 47% of the children in our country were malnourished. We have tricd to
analyse tile data gathered through our ICDS monitoring system in the last four years.
Statewise statcments indicating the nutritional status of children for tile last four ycars, as
rcported by the state governments, is eoclosed- As pe' this data, 4468% of the children (0-6
years) were normal (i.e- they were not underoourishcd) as on 31" Match, 2002. This figure
stands at 47.85% as on 31" March 2005- While there may be some inaccuracy in the data, but
what is abundantly clear is tbat there has been only a marginal decrease in the percentage of
undernourished children. Situation with regard to the cbildren in Grade 1lI and Grade TV of
malnutrition is particularly bad in case of.Bihar (21.05%), i\runanchal Pradesh (13.08%),
.1harkhand (5.02%) and Madhya Pradesh (3_56%). It leads one tu infer that the ICaS
Scheme is not baving its desired impact.
India is a committed to achieving the Millennium Development Goals. One of the
goals is "Eradication of extreme poverty and hnnger", and the target stipulated is "Halve,
between 1990-2015 the proportion of people who suffer from Indicator foc this
target is "Prevalence of under weight children under 5 of Tbe Tenth Plan also
stipulates that the percentage of onder nourished children tilan of age woold be
reduced by 50% of the current levels (for weight for age, below SD) and percentage
wlder-nourished children below 3 years (with weight for age -2 SO), would be
reduced tram the current level of 47% to 40%.
Tbere are a host of tactors that are associated with malnutrition amongst children.
These are - access to toad, food habits and dietary intakes, ignorance about breast feeding,
lack of nutrition and bealth education, access to health facilllies, poor health status of
motbers and hence low birth weights etc.
that 1CDS is the most important intervention, which can help us in
eradication of extreme bunger and povcrty. The integrated nature of
under ICDS is an effective tool to figbt malnutrition amongst children.
, 1°'