Shiladitya Swarnakar

RUSIE Assignment
Elucidate/list examples of development programs by Government of India which are aimed at
improving the nutritional status of women, children and adolescent girls.

PGP-FABM
2017053

Good health benefits not only the individual, but the nation as well. A third of women of
reproductive age in India are undernourished, with a body mass index (BMI) of less than 18.5
kg/m2.Undernourised mother produces undernourished child and the cycle goes on. Children and
youth in this state suffer from numerous nutritional deficiencies which adversely impact their overall
health. Government has taken several policies for woman, children and malnutrition:

The Mother and Child Tracking System (MCTS), helps monitor the health care system to ensure that
all mothers and their children have access to a range of services, including pregnancy care, medical
care during delivery, and immunizations. The system consists of a database of all pregnancies
registered at health care facilities and birth since 1 December 2009.

Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan, is launched by the Ministry of Health

& Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India. This program aims to provide assured,
quality care, free of cost. It provides universally to all pregnant women
on the 9th of every month. Under this scheme it is guaranted a minimum package of antenatal care
services to women in their 2nd /3rd trimesters of pregnancy at some designated government health
facilities.

Nutrition Programme for Adolescent Girls (NPAG), It was meant to address the needs of adolescent
girls, pregnant mother and lactating mothers. The scheme provides 6kg of food grains. The scheme
started as a pilot project in 51 districts. The food is provided through the PDS for no cost to the
families. The scheme targets children between age 11-19 who are less than 35Kg.

The Ministry of Woman and Child Development also has developed certain schemes for child
nutrition such as the National Guidelines on Infant and Young Child which teaches the importance
of breast feeding, National Nutrition Policy which was adopted in 1993 for removing malnutrition
and achieving nutrition for all. The National Nutrition Policy also includes the Food and Nutrition
Board, which develops posters, audio jingles and video spots for disseminating correct facts about
breastfeeding and complementary feeding. National Plan of Action for Children aims at improving
the nutritional status of children reducing infant mortality Rate, increasing enrollment ratio,
reducing drop out ratio and universalization of primary education.

In India, many of the reasons for the occurrence of malnutrition, as well as the solutions to
overcome the challenge, are known. However, attention needs to be paid to understand
what prevents the nation from achieving its goals related to nutrition. The agencies of State
governments have to adopt a comprehensive and coordinated multi-sectoral approach
which is formulated by taking into account the varied nature of local -level challenges. They
have to demonstrate better governance, too. For its part, civil society must respond in a
responsible manner. In particular, attention needs to be paid on building neighborhood
health and nutrition profiles and carrying out interventions based on identified needs.

Word count: 475

References:

 .Data on different nutrition indicators are generated through National Family

Health Surveys (NFHS). So far, four rounds of surveys have been conducted, i.e.,

NFHS-1 (1992-93), NFHS-2 (1998-99), NFHS-3 (2005-06) and NFHS-4 (2015-16).

 IFPRI. Global Nutrition Report, Nutrition Country Profile – India, 2015: data

beyond 2006 are not available. NFHS – 4. 2015-16. Anaemia implies deficiency of

red cells or of haemoglobin in blood, which causes weakness.

 "Services on Track Over Two Crore Women Beneficiaries Registered with
MCTS". Government of India Press Information Bureau. Retrieved 21 June 2014