Government has taken various measures to check malnutrition in the people living Below Poverty Line (BPL) and the tribals which are as follows:
1. Promotion of appropriate infant and young child feeding practices that include early initiation of breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding till 6 months of age through ASHA worker and health care provider at health facilities. Under “MAA” programme of MoHFW, impetus on capacity building of the health workers on lactation management at both community and facility levels and 360 degree IEC campaign to create awareness regarding breastfeeding is being carried out.
2. Treatment of sick children with severe acute malnutrition at special units called the Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres (NRCs), set up at public health facilities. Presently 965 such centres are functional in 26 States and UTs.
3. Vitamin A supplementation for children aged 6 months to 5 years and iron and folic acid supplementation is being carried out for children, adolescents, pregnant and lactating women through life cycle approach under “National Iron Plus Initiative” programme. Also, promotion of intake of iodised salt is being carried out under National Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Programme.
4. Village Health and Nutrition Days and Mother and Child Protection Card are the joint initiative of the Ministries of Health & Family welfare and the Ministry of Woman and Child for addressing the nutrition concerns in children, pregnant women and lactating mothers. Monthly Village Health and Nutrition Days (VHND) are monthly days held at village level in Anganwadi centre to increase the awareness and bring about desired changes in the dietary practices including the promotion of breastfeeding.
5. Under the RashtriyaBalSwasthyaKaryakram (RBSK) and Rashtriya Kishore SwasthyaKaryakram (RKSK), systematic efforts are undertaken to detect nutrition deficiency among children and adolescents respectively.
6. Supplementary Nutrition in form of hot-cooked meals and take-home ration provided to children aged 6 months to 6 years under Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme, Growth monitoring of children aged 0-5 years on a monthly basis at Anganwadi Centres.
7. Mid-day meal is provided for all students enrolled in Government and Government aided schools.
As per RHS 2016, the number of healthcare centres functioning in the tribal areas is 33,301. The details are as follows:
• District Hospital: 163
• Community Health Centres: 1030
• Primary Health Centres: 4012
• Sub Centres: 28,096
Also, presently 260 NRCs are functioning in tribal areas.
The Minister of State (Health and Family Welfare), ShFaggan Singh Kulaste stated this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha here today.
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