This document discusses malnutrition in India. It states that India is home to the largest number of hungry people in the world, with over 200 million malnourished. Nearly half of Indian children under age 5 are stunted and underweight. Malnutrition contributes to over 50% of child deaths in India and costs the country 2.95% of its GDP annually. While the government has implemented programs to address malnutrition, such as mid-day meals in schools, challenges remain and innovative solutions are still needed to fully tackle this problem.

3. Undernutrition
People are malnourished ifPeople are malnourished if
their diet does not providetheir diet does not provide
adequate calories and proteinadequate calories and protein
for growth and maintenancefor growth and maintenance
or they are unable to fullyor they are unable to fully
utilize the food they eat due toutilize the food they eat due to
”Malnutrition is a contributing factor in over”Malnutrition is a contributing factor in over
50% of deaths in children under five”50% of deaths in children under five”WorldWorld BankBank
Undernutrition
Lack of nutrients
Calories
Protein
Micronutrients
Low income countries
Overnutrition
Obesity
Too many calories
High and middle income countries
utilize the food they eat due toutilize the food they eat due to
illness (undernutrition). Theyillness (undernutrition). They
are also malnourished if theyare also malnourished if they
consume too many caloriesconsume too many calories
(overnutrition).”(overnutrition).” UNICEFUNICEF
A state of poor nutrition; can
result from insufficient or
excessive or unbalanced diet or
from inability to absorb foods.

5. Overnutrition is generally seen in developed countries but when it comes to
developing countries India is home to the largest number of hungry people in
the world. The Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2010 ranks India at 67 out of 122
countries; whereas the ‘2012 Global Hunger Index’ (IFPRI) ranks it at 65 among
79 countries. Similarly, malnutrition in India, especially among children and
women, is widespread, acute and even alarming.
India is taking rapid strides towards progress. But there is a hidden enemy that
threatens to destroy our tomorrow.
Malnutrition is a chain that holds back our progress.
•India is home to 23 crore hungry people.
•33% of the world’s malnourished children live in India.
•About 50% of childhood deaths are attributed to malnutrition.
•In India, 48% of children under the age of 5 are stunted and 43% are
underweight.
•Malnutrition is costing the Indian economy 2.95% of its GDP annually.
•75% of adolescent mothers in India put on only 5 kgs during pregnancy
compared to the world wide average of 10 kgs due to malnourishment.
Malnutrition is a chain that holds back our progress.

6. Padhai mein dhyan na lagna, der se samajh ana, baar baar bimar
padna; ye kuposhan ke lakshan ho sakte hai! – Aamir Khan(a mascot
against malnutrition)
UNAWARENESSUNAWARENESS
FEEDING
MATERNITY LEAVE
POOR SANITATION
ECONOMIC BACKGROUNG
GIRL CHILD
ILLITERACY

7. According to the United Nations Children’s Fund, 33% of malnourished
children live in India. In India, around 46% of all children below the age of
three are stunted in their growth and 47% are underweight. In terms of
Under Five Mortality Rate, India ranks 148 out of 195 countries. A 2012
report published by the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) estimates
that iron and iodine deficiencies amongst the Indian population result in
productivity loss equivalent to 2.95% of the country’s GDP. In 1995, the
government launched the Mid-day Meal Scheme through the National
Program of Nutritional Support to Primary Education (NP-NSPE) which was
universalized in 2001 by the Supreme Court. In 2013, the government
introduced the Food Security Ordinance which aims to mitigate hunger.
However, its ability to tackle malnourishment is being highly contested.
Hence, a combination of innovative and plausible solutions is required toHence, a combination of innovative and plausible solutions is required to
tackle this challenge.
As per National Family Health Survey-3, around
42.5% children below the age of five were
underweight and 69.5% of children between six to 50
months were anemic in 2005-06. Madhya Pradesh
has 60% of children malnourished whereas 78% of
them in Bihar are anemic.
According to HINDUSTAN TIMES
(August 2012)
Five worst child
malnutrition states:
Madhya Pradesh: 60%
Bihar: 55.9%
Jharkhand: 56.5%
Meghalaya: 48.8%
Chhattisgarh: 47.1%

8. Because when..
The world is a
safer, more
Girls & women are
well-nourished and
have healthy
newborn babies
Children receive
proper nutrition
and develop strong
bodies & minds
Communities &
nations are safer, more
resilient &
stronger place
Adolescents learn
better & achieve
higher grades
in school
Young adults are
better able
to obtain
work & earn more
Families &
communities
emerge out of
poverty
Communities &
nations are
productive & stable
• Nutrition
investments can
help break the cycle
of poverty and
increase a country’s
GDP by at least
2 to 3% annually.

9. Nutrition-sensitive strategies increase the impact of
specific actions for nutrition
Specific Actions for
Nutrition
Nutrition-Sensitive Strategies
Feeding Practices & Behaviors:
Encouraging exclusive breastfeeding up
to 6 months of age and continued
breastfeeding together with appropriate
and nutritious food up to 2 years of age
and beyond
Agricultural production: Making
nutritious food more accessible to
everyone, and supporting small farms as a
source of income for women and families
Safe drinking Water & Sanitation:
Improving access to reduce infection and
disease
Fortification of foods: Enabling access to
lacking nutrients through incorporating
them into foods(mandatory)
Micronutrient supplementation:
Direct provision of extra nutrients
Treatment & care of acute malnutrition:
Enabling persons with moderate and
severe malnutrition to access effective
treatment
disease
Education & Employment: Making sure
children have the nutrition needed to
learn and earn a decent income as adults
Health Care: Access to services that
enable women & children to be healthy
Support for Resilience: Establishing a
stronger, healthier population and
sustained prosperity to better endure
emergencies and conflicts

10. 11
Create Political and
Operational Platforms,
with strong in-country leadership &
shared multi-stakeholder spaces
where people come together to align
their activities & take joint
responsibility for scaling up nutrition.
33
Align Actions Across Sectors
around high quality and well-
costed country plans, with an
agreed results framework and
mutual accountability.responsibility for scaling up nutrition.
22 Incorporating Best Practices
into National Policies
for scaling up proven
interventions; including the
adoption of effective laws
& policies
44 Increasing Resources and
Monitoring Implementation
for coherent, aligned, effective
action and maximum impact.
Malnutrition deserves far greater attention and investment than it
currently receives. While India is one of the largest producers of food
grains, it’s unacceptable that it is home to more malnourished children
than Sub Saharan Africa.

11. together
we can achieve
what no single effort could,
and make the world a
healthier, stronger
place for us all.
We should reveal what
has been hidden to all.
We should make healthier
& stronger societies.
Our goal should be a better
world for all
…especially our
children!

12. • UN Millennium Project 2005, Halving Hunger
• http://devdata.worldbank.org/atlas-mdg/
• http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/47/Starved_girl.jpg
• de Onis M, Garza C, Victora CG, Bhan MK, Norum KR, guest editors. The WHO
Multicentre Growh Reference Study (MGRS): Rationale, planning and
implementation. Food and Nutrition Bulletin, Volume 25, Number 1,
Supplement 1, March 2004 . http://www.unu.edu/unupress/food/fnb25-1s-
WHO-1.pdf
• Growth Chart : http://www.who.int/nutrition/media_page/growthchart/en/
• Refugee Health: An approach to Emergency Sitations, MSF 1997
• http://www.asnom.org/image/510_nutrition/116_327_kwashiorkor.jpg
• State of the World´s Children 1998, UNICEF
• http://www.milesresearch.com/main/eyesigns.asp#bitotspots
• Micronutrient deficiencies: ”Bringing science to bear.”Micronutrient deficiencies: ”Bringing science to bear.”
• Global Strategy for Infant and young Child feeding, WHO, Geneva
• Essentials of Pediatrics, Nelson 4th edition 2002.
• http://encarta.msn.com/media_461516710_761575681_-
1_1/macrophage_engulfing_bacterium.html
• http://www.avert.org/aids-picture.php?photo_id=1703, Photo of antibody.
• Global Health and introductory text book, Lindstrand et.al. 2006. (cost of
iodizing salt)
• The revised BFHI package includes: Section 1: Background and
Implementation [pdf 359kb], 2006,
http://www.who.int/nutrition/topics/bfhi/en/index.html
• http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bb/Zinc_Sulfate.
jpg
• i Deolalikar, A. (2012, July 23). A national shame: Hunger and
malnutrition in India. Ideas for India. Retrieved from
http://www.ideasforindia.in/article.aspx?article_id=8