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India’s economic progress has not translated to improving child malnutrition. Shockingly, 74.1% of the Indian population cannot afford healthy food, leaving over 100 crore people with insufficient nutrition. This nutritional poverty creates a vicious cycle: poverty leads to malnutrition, which perpetuates poverty.

The problem is starkly evident in the latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) data. Disturbingly, 13 out of 22 states showed increased stunting in children under 5 since the last survey in 2015-2016. Wasting also increased in 12 states. These figures predate the pandemic and emerged despite improvements in sanitation and immunization. The data reveals an alarming trend: while under-5 and infant mortality rates have decreased in 18 states, 16 states simultaneously experienced a surge in underweight and severely wasted children under 5.

Several factors contribute to this nutritional crisis:

Economic Slowdown:  India’s recent economic slowdown, stagnant rural wages, high unemployment, and growing inequality likely impacted household food security, contributing to worsening nutrition.
Weakened Social Protection: Public programs for food security, social protection, and nutrition failed to provide a sufficient safety net during economic hardship. For example, expenditure on the Supplementary Nutrition Program, part of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), decreased by 6% between 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 .
Intergenerational Malnutrition: A high prevalence of anemia among women of childbearing age raises the risk of low birth weight infants and infant anemia, perpetuating the cycle of malnutrition..
Lack of Dietary Diversity:  A key emerging issue is the lack of dietary diversity among Indian children and adolescents. The Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey (2016-2018) highlighted inadequate diet diversity and meal frequency in children.

The ramifications of this malnutrition crisis are profound.

Stunted Growth: Stunting, a sign of chronic malnutrition, can have long-term consequences for physical and cognitive development, impacting education, employment, and overall productivity..
Weakened Immune System: Malnourished children are more susceptible to infections and diseases, further straining the healthcare system.
Increased Risk of Chronic Diseases:Poor nutrition early in life can increase the risk of chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers later in life .

Addressing this crisis demands a multifaceted approach:

Strengthening Social Safety Nets:  Expanding and fortifying programs like the ICDS and the Mid-Day Meal Scheme to ensure consistent access to nutritious food for vulnerable populations is crucial.
Promoting Dietary Diversity: Policies and programs should emphasize diversifying diets beyond staples like rice and wheat, incorporating fruits, vegetables, and protein sources.
Addressing Anemia: Tackling anemia in women and children through iron and folic acid supplementation and dietary interventions is crucial to break the intergenerational cycle of malnutrition.
Community Empowerment: Educating communities about the importance of nutrition, dietary diversity, and breastfeeding practices empowers individuals to make healthier choices.
Cross-Sector Collaboration:  Effective solutions require coordinated efforts across ministries and departments, including health, education, agriculture, and social welfare.

The Hidden Crisis: How Malnutrition Affects India's Future Generations