UNVEILING THE PRESENT LANDSCAPE OF MALNUTRITION IN INDIA: A COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT

Achieving healthy diets and ending malnutrition, particularly among children, remains a formidable challenge, even as India, the worlds second-most populous nation, has witnessed consistent economic growth and attained food grain self-sufficiency. Despite these advancements, high poverty levels, food insecurity, and malnutrition persist. This article highlights the pressing issues of malnutrition in India. Undernourished children are more susceptible to infectious diseases, leading to higher mortality rates and diminished productivity in adulthood, further perpetuating the cycle of undernutrition. Based on NFHS surveys, the article presents a detailed analysis of crucial malnutrition indicators, including stunting, wasting, and underweight children. It reveals that Indias performance on global hunger indices remains a cause for concern, with the highest child-wasting rate globally and a serious hunger level. At the same time, some indicators have shown marginal improvement, but acute malnutrition in children under five remains challenging. The article emphasizes the role of non-economic factors such as gender discrimination, hygiene, and maternal education in perpetuating malnutrition. Additionally, it discusses the governments initiatives, including the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and POSHAN Abhiyaan, in addressing the issue. The article calls for a renewed focus on the critical first 1000 days of a childs life and the effective promotion of intensive breastfeeding to combat malnutrition. It advocates for targeted interventions, improved data management, strengthened governance, and systematic monitoring to ensure a healthier future for Indias children and address the pressing issue of malnutrition.