Over 37.7% Anganwadi children stunted; govt data

New Delhi

Government data reveals a worrying picture of malnutrition among children enrolled in Anganwadis, despite ongoing efforts to improve child health.

According to Poshan Tracker data, 37.7% of children enrolled in Anganwadis are stunted, and 17.1% are underweight. These figures were shared by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD) in reply to a Rajya Sabha query.

Massive Enrolment and Assessments

As of February 2024, around 8.8 crore children (0-6 years) are registered in Anganwadis, out of which 8.5 crore children have been assessed for height and weight. The data highlights that while many children are reached through Anganwadi centers, malnutrition remains a pressing issue.

Minister of State for WCD, Savitri Thakur, pointed out that India’s 0-6 age group population was projected at 16.1 crore in 2021, with 13.7 crore children under five years of age. Among the 7.4 crore children under five registered in Anganwadis, 7.2 crore were checked for growth. Findings show 39% stunted, 16.6% underweight, and 5.3% wasted children — figures higher than NFHS-5 (2019-21) data, which recorded 35.5% stunting, 32.1% underweight, and 19.3% wasting.

The Ministry clarified that Poshan Tracker provides real-time nutrition data of around 8.5 crore children monthly, unlike NFHS, which surveys 6.1 lakh households every 5-6 years, offering a broader but less frequent snapshot.