New Delhi: The Union Government has revealed that more than one-third of children under the age of five registered in anganwadis – rural child healthcare centres across India – are affected by stunting.
State Women and Child Development Minister Savitri Thakur, addressing a query in Rajya Sabha, stated that 7.54 crore children under five are registered on Poshan (nutrition) Tracker and enrolled in anganwadis.
Of the 16.1 crore projected population of children up to six years in 2021, 8.82 crore are enrolled in anganwadis. Growth measurements of 8.55 crore children in this group show that 37% are stunted, 17% are underweight, and 5.2% are wasting. Among these, 7.31 crore children had their growth factors assessed, with findings indicating 38.9% are stunted, 17% underweight, and 5.2% suffering from wasting.
Malnutrition – resulting from an imbalance in energy or nutrient intake – is manifest in forms such as stunting, wasting, and underweight. According to WHO, stunting refers to the impaired growth and development of children caused by poor nutrition, recurrent infections, and inadequate psychosocial stimulation.
Data for the broader age group of 0–6 years shows similar concerns. Among the 16.1 crore projected children, 8.82 crore are enrolled in anganwadis, and of the 8.55 crore children measured, 37% are stunted and 17% are underweight.
The Ministry of Women and Child Development’s Poshan Tracker serves as a digital platform to monitor nutritional outcomes and track service delivery at anganwadi centres.
A child is classified as stunted if their height is below the recommended level for their age, wasted if their weight is below the recommended level for their height, and underweight if their weight is below the recommended level for their age.
