The malnutrition blight: Why 40% of Gujarat kids under 5 are underweight
advertisement
AWCs offer a range of critical services in backward areas of India's rural and urban landscape. This is where children, lactating mothers, pregnant women and adolescent girls get supplementary nutrition; children gain access to key health services like vaccination; and mothers and families get educated on childcare, hygiene and nutrition. For children aged 3-6 years, preschool education is also offered. The anganwadis play a pivotal role in controlling malnutrition and stunting among growing children, so when a report highlights 48.1 per cent of them 'missing', it's shorthand for how poorly Gujarat is doing on a range of social and health indices.
And this is despite an array of schemes and budgetary allocations. The NITI Aayog's Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) India Index 2023-24, released in July 2024, said that nearly 40 per cent of children in Gujarat under five are underweight or stunted, and over 38 per cent of the population is undernourished. The state also lags behind many peers in addressing the issue of hunger. Gujarat's performance is concerning as its SDG-2 score has dropped from 49 in 2018 to 41 in 2019, and now stabilised at 46 in 2023-24, suggesting limited progress in tackling malnutrition.'Tribal areas are the worst affected due to landscape and distance,' says social activist Neeta Hardikar, whose NGO Anandi has been working in the tribal regions of Gujarat to spread awareness about health, education and women's empowerment. 'In aspirational districts like Dahod, AWC numbers have not increased. But the biggest concern is the staff. Just two people per anganwadi is too little. Workers are stretched thin and unable to give quality attention to women and children.'The SDG Index also notes that 62.5 per cent of pregnant women aged 15-49 in Gujarat are anaemic, contributing to intergenerational malnutrition cycles. 'Intergenerational malnutrition requires persistent intervention. Initial findings of a recent study we did on food security across 30 households of each village in five talukas of Dahod district revealed that only two of the five food types prescribed for a nutritive diet show up on their plate on an average day,' says Hardikar. 'Allocated ration is not enough and does not reach intended beneficiaries.'advertisement
In the past four months, the Bhupendra Patel government has announced two new initiatives to counter malnutrition—the Mukhyamantri Paushtik Alpahar Yojana to provide protein-rich snacks to students in state-run and grant-in-aid schools with budgetary funds of Rs 607 crore annually; and the Nutrition Mission, with an allocation of Rs 75 crore to enhance obstetric and newborn care. The MoWCD submitted in the Lok Sabha in December 2024 that the proportion of stunted children in Gujarat dropped from 53.6 per cent in 2022 to 40.8 per cent in 2024; the share of underweight children fell from 23.1 to 21 per cent over the same period.Yet, there is a long way to go. Hardikar says schemes and allocations don't translate into results on the ground. 'Anganwadi workers are not trained for the complex job at hand. Understanding around contraception is still abysmally low. Child and maternal mortality from malnutrition is under-reported as the anganwadi and ASHA workers are in denial. Any discussion on the issue at the gram sabhas is only to demand explanations; we need constructive feedback sessions rather than a punitive process,' she says. 'Keeping up the morale of the anganwadi and ASHA workers is critical here.'advertisementSubscribe to India Today Magazine
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
13 hours ago
- Hans India
Acharya Balkrishna's B-day celebrated as Herb Day at Patanjali Yogpeeth
Haridwar: Birthday of Acharya Balkrishna Ji, General Secretary of Patanjali Yogpeeth Patanjali Wellness, Patanjali Herb Day was celebrated in the Yoga Bhavan auditorium of Yogapeeth-2. On the occasion of Herb Day, Swami Ramdev Ji and Acharya Balkrishna Ji made the people present take a pledge to plant trees for a healthy person, healthy family, healthy society, healthy nation and healthy world. Swami Ji and Acharya Ji themselves inspired the general public by donating blood and planting trees. In the program, Swami Ramdev Ji Maharaj while wishing Acharya Ji on his birthday said that celebrating Acharya Ji's birthday is just an excuse, its main objective is that herbs should adorn not only every house of Mother India but the courtyard of the entire Mother Earth and the entire humanity should get health and happiness from them. He said that herbs are a medium to experience the grace of nature-God. He said that herbs are not only for treatment but also for self-realisation. Swami Ji said that Acharya Ji, who has established the legacy of his sages with pride, is a living example of this unbroken and tremendous effort. Acharya ji's great penance is inherent in various service complexes of Patanjali like Patanjali Ayurveda Hospital, Yogagram, Patanjali Wellness etc. Pujya Acharya ji has dedicated his entire life for public welfare. His life is an inspiration that we have to dedicate our lives to the service of Mother India, humanity, nature, culture by considering every work as worship of God with our complete knowledge, devotion and effort. Revered Acharya ji is its living example and embodiment incarnate form. 11 books written by Acharya ji were released in the program. First of which was released Saumitreya Padapaniruktam, which is certified with references from more than 150 Ayurvedic texts and manuscripts. Today this book was dedicated in the service of the country, the nation and the world.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Dera Bassi: Rescue and rehabilitate children begging near Dera Bassi flyover: Minister
Punjab social security, women and child development minister Dr Baljit Kaur has directed immediate rescue and rehabilitation of children and families found begging in distressing conditions near the Dera Bassi flyover. Dr Baljit Kaur, Punjab social security, women and child development minister. (HT File) Acting swiftly on reports of unsafe and unhygienic living conditions in the area, the minister stated that these children were highly vulnerable to exploitation and must urgently be safeguarded. 'Their safety is a top priority for the government,' she added. Minister Kaur has instructed officials from the department of social security, child protection units and the district administration to launch a special rescue operation in the area. 'The children should be provided shelter, food, healthcare, and education under Project Jeevanjyot-2: Save the Childhood, a state initiative to eliminate child begging,' she added. The minister has also ordered officials across all districts of Punjab to treat such cases with utmost seriousness and to initiate similar rescue and rehabilitation campaigns for children found begging in their respective regions. 'If any individual or group is found forcing children to beg, strict legal action will be taken against them,' Kaur said, highlighting the importance of coordinated action involving police, health, education and municipal authorities to ensure effective rehabilitation. She also appealed to the public to report child begging or trafficking by calling the child helpline —1098.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
Breast Cancer: How COVID-19 may awaken dormant Breast Cancer cells, study shows disturbing evidence
Even though Covid 19 is still around, it remains less of a threat (for now), but long-term benefits of the condition continue to be a topic of research for scientists. And now, a link has been established between breast cancer remission and Covid 19, and how the latter can trigger inactive cells. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Research conducted during the past years indicates that cancer patients may face ongoing dangers which persist beyond their successful treatment. Nature published research demonstrates that COVID-19 along with influenza, activate resting breast cancer cells located in the lungs which could produce new growths and result in cancer recurrence. Seeds of cancer that 'sleep' in the body The treatment of cancer either through surgery or chemo, causes some cells to migrate from the main tumor to distant locations including the lungs, where they become inactive. The term disseminated cancer cells (DCCs), describes the cells which remain inactive for extended periods without creating any issues. The reactivation of these cells occurs when particular triggers become active, which then results in dangerous metastasis that spreads cancer to new body regions. The emergence of cancer problems occurs when a patient develops viruses such as COVID-19 and flu. What do studies say Scientists from Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Utrecht University, conducted a research study about the impact of respiratory viruses like SARS-CoV-2 and influenza on mice with dormant breast cancer cells. The results showed that both viruses successfully activated the dormant cancer cells located in the lungs. The dormant cells started multiplying right away before forming observable tumors during a two-week period. The activation of cancer cells results from the inflammation which occurs when the body fights infections. The body responds to viral infections by producing specific proteins, which function as immune system defenders. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Research revealed interleukin-6 (IL-6) functions as a key molecule which activates cells that have been dormant. The research provides evidence from human populations in addition to mouse studies. To establish whether these findings would apply to human populations, researchers accessed extensive databases containing breast cancer patient information. Research results demonstrated that cancer survivors who acquired respiratory infections, developed increased chances of lung cancer recurrence, during the first year following infection. The initial COVID-19 pandemic data indicated that cancer deaths together with metastatic disease increased in survivors, who acquired the virus, thus indicating viral-induced inflammation as a possible explanation for this pattern. Why inflammation matters Inflammation occurs when the immune system battles an infection, by sending out alert signals. The protective rest state of dormant cancer cells becomes disrupted by inflammation that arises during viral infections. The activation of these cells leads to quick proliferation, which results in tumor formation. What can cancer survivors do These research findings should motivate people to understand the risks better while encouraging protective actions. If you are a breast cancer survivor, especially one who had metastatic cancer in remission, you should follow these recommendations: Consult your physician regarding your chances of cancer recurrence. Get all prescribed vaccines including both influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations. Follow standard hygiene practices to minimise the risk of acquiring respiratory infections. Seek immediate medical help when you experience symptoms of infection, which include fever along with cough and breathing problems. The research team emphasised that these new findings present alarming possibilities, yet they enable scientists to develop new therapeutic strategies. Researchers believe that blocking IL-6 or reducing inflammation through medications, could serve as a future method to stop dormant cancer cells from becoming active again. Disclaimer: This article is informational only and not a substitute for medical advice
