**Policy Summary: Addressing Anemia Among Women in India**
On July 25, 2025, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare addressed Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 977 regarding anemia among women in India. The response provided details on the prevalence of anemia and government initiatives to combat it.
According to the National Health Family Survey 5 (2019-21), anemia prevalence among women aged 15-49 years varies significantly across States/UTs (see Annexure). Ladakh reports the highest prevalence at 78.1%, while Nagaland has the lowest at 22.2%. Several states including Bihar (63.1%), Gujarat (62.6%), Haryana (65.5%), Odisha (61.8%), Tripura (61.5%) and West Bengal (62.3%) also exhibit high rates.
The Government of India is implementing the Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) Programme across all States/UTs to reduce anemia prevalence in women and children through a life cycle approach. The program focuses on six key interventions:
1. Prophylactic Iron and Folic Acid (IFA) supplementation: Daily IFA red tablets are provided for 180 days to pregnant women and lactating mothers.
2. Deworming: Albendazole tablets are administered in the second trimester of pregnancy.
3. Intensified behavior change communication campaigns conducted year-round.
4. Anemia testing using digital invasive hemoglobinometers and point-of-care treatment.
5. Mandatory provision of iron and folic acid fortified foods in public health programs.
6. Addressing non-nutritional causes of anemia in endemic pockets, with a focus on malaria, haemoglobinopathies, and fluorosis, through a robust institutional mechanism.
Key Entities Referenced
Anaemia Mukt Bharat Programme: A Government of India program implemented across all States and Union Territories to reduce the prevalence of anaemia in women and children.
National Health Family Survey 5 2019-21: A national survey that provides data on various health and family welfare indicators, including the prevalence of anaemia among women in India.
Iron and Folic Acid: A dietary supplement provided as part of the Anaemia Mukt Bharat Programme to address iron deficiency, a major cause of anaemia.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the unstarred question regarding anaemia among women was raised.
Anupriya Patel: The Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare who provided the answer to the Lok Sabha question.
Andhra Pradesh: A state in India with a reported anaemia prevalence of 53.7% among women aged 15-49 years according to the National Health Family Survey 5 2019-21.
Uttar Pradesh: A state in India with a reported anaemia prevalence of 45.9% among women aged 15-49 years according to the National Health Family Survey 5 2019-21.
West Bengal: A state in India with a reported anaemia prevalence of 62.3% among women aged 15-49 years according to the National Health Family Survey 5 2019-21.
GOVERNMENT OFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTHAND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENT OFHEALTHAND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION No. 977
TOBE ANSWERED ON 25TH JULY,2025
ANAEMIAAMONGWOMEN
977.SHRIIMRAN MASOOD:
Willthe Ministerof HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE be pleased tostate:
(a) the details of the cases of anaemia among women in the country during the last five years,
year-wiseandState-wise,and
(b) the initiative taken by the Government to reduce the anaemia cases among women in the
country,State/UT-wise?
ANSWER
THE MINISTEROFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILY
WELFARE
(SMT. ANUPRIYAPATEL)
(a) : The prevalenceof anaemia among women in the country, State/UT-wise asper National
HealthFamilySurvey-5(2019-21) isplacedatAnnexure.
(b) : The Government of India implements Anaemia Mukt Bharat Programme in the country,
across all States/UTs, to reduce prevalence of anaemia in women and children in life cycle
approachthroughimplementationof sixinterventions-
Prophylactic Iron and Folic Acid supplementation (IFA Red tablets are provided
dailyfor 180daystopregnantwomen andlactatingmothers).
Deworming(albendazoletabletinsecondtrimester ofpregnancy).
Intensifiedyear-roundbehaviorchangecommunicationcampaign.
Testing of anemia using digital invasive hemoglobinometer and point of care
treatment.
Mandatory provision of iron and folic acid fortified foods in public health
programmes.
Addressing non-nutritional causes of anemia in endemic pockets, with special
focus on malaria, haemoglobinopathies and fluorosis, via robust institutional
mechanism.
****
1Annexurereferredtoinreplytopart(a)ofLokSabhaUnstarredQuestionNo.977foransweron
25.07.2025
Annexure
State/UT-wise prevalence of anaemiaamongwomen
S.No. Name of theState/UT Percentage of anaemia
among all women (15-49
years)
1 Andaman& Nicobar Islands NA
2 Andhra Pradesh 53.7
3 Arunachal Pradesh 27.9
4 Assam 54.2
5 Bihar 63.1
6 Chandigarh NA
7 Chhattisgarh 51.8
8 Delhi 42.2
9 DNH& DD 60.7
10 Goa NA
11 Gujarat 62.6
12 Haryana 65.5
13 HimachalPradesh 42.2
14 J&K 44.1
15 Jharkhand 56.8
16 Karnataka 45.7
17 Kerala 31.4
18 Ladakh 78.1
19 Lakshadweep NA
20 Madhya Pradesh 52.9
21 Maharashtra 45.7
22 Manipur 32.4
23 Meghalaya 45
24 Mizoram 34
25 Nagaland 22.2
26 Odisha 61.8
27 Puducherry 42.5
28 Punjab 51.7
29 Rajasthan 46.3
30 Sikkim 40.7
31 Tamil Nadu 48.3
32 Telangana 53.2
33 Tripura 61.5
34 Uttarakhand 46.4
35 Uttar Pradesh 45.9
36 West Bengal 62.3
2