38.9 per cent children under five enrolled in anganwadis found stunted

Over a third of children under five years of age enrolled in anganwadis (rural child healthcare centres) across India are stunted, the government has told the Rajya Sabha.

In response to a question, women and child development minister of state Savitri Thakur said 7.54 crore children up to five years of age are enrolled in anganwadis and registered on the 'Poshan (nutrition) Tracker'.

Of these, 7.31 crore were measured for growth parameters, and findings show that 38.9 per cent of children are stunted, 17 per cent are underweight, and 5.2 per cent are wasted.

Stunting, wasting, and underweight are all types of malnutrition, which is a condition caused by an imbalance in a person's energy or nutrient intake. According to the World Health Organization, "stunting is the impaired growth and development that children experience from poor nutrition, repeated infection, and inadequate psychosocial stimulation".

For the broader age group of 0–6 years, the data shows similar concerns. Of the 16.1 crore projected population of children up to six years in 2021, 8.82 crore are enrolled in anganwadis. Measurements of 8.55 crore children in this group indicate that 37 per cent are stunted, while 17 per cent are underweight, according to the ministry's response released on Thursday.

The WCD ministry’s 'Poshan Tracker' is a digital platform aimed at monitoring nutritional outcomes and tracking the delivery of services at anganwadi centres.

A child is considered stunted if their height is below the recommended level for their age. A child is considered wasted if their weight is below the recommended level for their height while a child is considered underweight if their weight is below the recommended level for their age.

With agency inputs