SATISH HANDA
According to International Hunger Information -2020 study report, India ranking at 94th place out of the total number of 107 countries even lacking behind countries like Srilanka, Nepal, Pakistan and Bangladesh as such only 13 countries across the world are suffering from malnutrition as compared to our country. Information reveals, India was ranking at the 102 place in the list of total number of 117 countries as per a survey report in the year 2019 and ranking at the 103 place in the year 2018. According to a report, nearly 14% population in India suffers from malnutrition, which includes 68% children below age 5 years of them nearly 38.4% were anaemic nearly 19% lower in height and nearly 70% underweight. Among adults, 25.2% females and 20.2% males were identified suffering from malnutrition. International information report also revealed that nearly 69 crore people in the world are suffering from malnutrition. Children death rate in our country in past about a year has witnessed improvement as compared to previous year recorded 3.7% decline but still higher as compared to other countries.
Question arises that even 74 years after independence, our country has not been able to wipe out the problem of malnutrition In-spite of the fact the production of food grains in India have increased five times after the year 1947 and country is still facing the challenges to control malnutrition among majority of people although there is no shortage of food grains in the country. UNESCO report reveals, root causes of increasing cases of malnutrition in our country is due to poverty, illiteracy, lack of developments and awareness among people. However, since past two decades government of our country has taken steps to finish malnutrition among children and women by introducing several welfare schemes including Mid Day Meal for children in educational schools, National Nutrition Mission, E-Nutrition, Public Distribution System, Child Development Service and MNAREGA. There are few other factors like change in climate, shortage of drinking water, lack of cleanliness and increasing population adversely affecting he problem of malnutrition.
In-spite of fast economic development our country has not been able to finish the problem of malnutrition, which clearly indicates immediate reforms in this regard to enable make country malnutrition-free by the year 2022 and finish poverty by the year2030. There is need to identify families suffering from malnutrition and provide them social security by social welfare organizations, women & child welfare department in states as well as in the centre, family welfare rural development, Panchayat Raj, food & supply department, health and education sectors to join hands and wipe out malnutrition. Aanganwari workers, Asha workers, ANM, Primary and Community Health Centres are helping to bring awareness among pregnant women, feeding mothers and teen age girls suffering from malnutrition. There is immediate need to improve health services in the country presently having a single doctor to provide health services to 1700 persons to enable people get rid of malnutrition and make India World Power.
