Steps taken by Government to reduce malnutrition in the country As per one of the targets under Globally Agreed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), By 2030, end all forms of malnutrition, including achieving by 2025, the internationally agreed targets on stunting and wasting in children under 5 years of age and address the nutritional needs of adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating women and older persons". To address the components of the Target, the WCD Ministry is implementing Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme and Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Adolescent Girls i.e. SABLA. While ICDS covers the nutritional needs of children of 6 months- 6 years age, pregnant and lactating mothers, RGSAG Scheme covers the nutritional and non-nutritional components for adolescent girls. Under these schemes, age appropriate Supplementary Nutrition is provided to the beneficiaries at the Anagnwadi Centres spread across the country. As per the National Family Health Survey, the proportion of under-weight children below 3 years declined from 43% in 1998-99 to 40% in 2005-06. As per the Rapid Survey on Children (RSoC), 2013-14, commissioned by Ministry of Women and Child Development, there is a reduction in under weight among under 5 years of age from 42.5% in NFHS-III to 29.4% and wasting from 19.8% in NFHS-III to 15.1% in RSoC. As per the Rapid Survey on Children (RSoC), 2013-14, mentioned above, the level of stunting among children under 5 years of age has reduced from 48% in NFHS-II to 38.7% in RSoC. This information was given by the Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt Maneka Sanjay Gandhi in reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
