See Full Document Text
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1439
TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.02.2026
CHILD UNDERNUTRITION IN MAHARASHTRA
1439. SHRI DHANANJAY BHIMRAO MAHADIK:
Will the Minister of Women and Child Development be pleased to state:
(a) whether Government has taken note of the latest data on child undernutrition, stunting and
wasting in Maharashtra, including district-wise trends and high-burden tribal, rural and
urban slum areas, and if so, the details thereof; and
(b) the specific, time-bound interventions initiated during 2025–26 in the State of Maharashtra
to reduce stunting and wasting, particularly in aspirational and tribal districts, the details
thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI SAVITRI THAKUR)
(a) Various rounds data of National Family Health Survey (NFHS) of Ministry of Health and
Family Welfare and Poshan Tracker data of the Ministry of Women and Child Development
provide information on malnutrition indicators in children (0-5 years of age) in the country. Both
of the data sets have shown improvement over the years in the malnutrition indicators. The details
are as below:
NFHS Survey (Maharashtra) Stunting % Underweight % Wasting %
NFHS-1 (1992-93)* 47 32.7 27.6
NFHS-2 (1998-99)** 47.1 44.8 23.6
NFHS-3 (2005-6)*** 44.0 47.3 17.2
NFHS-4 (2015-16)*** 34.4 36 25.6
NFHS-5 (2019-20)*** 35.2 36.1 25.6
Maharashtra (Poshan Tracker, January 2026) 26.85 10.51 2.57
India (Poshan Tracker, January 2026)*** 31.38 13.12 4.36
*Under 4 years, ** Under 3 years, *** Under 5 yearsFurther details of the State of Maharashtra are available at: https://www.poshantracker.in/statistics
(b) Steps taken from time to time to reduce stunting and wasting under Mission Poshan 2.0 in all
the States/UTs including aspirational and tribal districts of Maharashtra are mentioned below:
• Under Mission Poshan 2.0, Supplementary Nutrition is provided to Children (6 months to
6 years), Pregnant Women, Lactating Mothers and Adolescent Girls. Supplementary
nutrition is provided in accordance with the nutrition norms contained in Schedule-II of
the National Food Security Act. These norms have been revised and upgraded in January
2023. The old norms were largely calorie-specific; however, the revised norms are more
comprehensive and balanced in terms of both quantity and quality of supplementary
nutrition based on the principles of diet diversity that provides for quality protein, healthy
fats and 7 essential micronutrients (Calcium, Zinc, Iron, Dietary Folate, Vitamin-A,
Vitamin-B6 and Vitamin B-12).
• Further, fortified rice is supplied to Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) to meet the requirement
of micro-nutrients and to control anaemia among women and children. Greater emphasis
is laid on the use of millets at least once a week for preparation of Hot Cooked Meal and
Take-Home Ration at AWCs.
• The ‘Poshan Tracker’ application was rolled out as an important governance tool.
Technology under Poshan Tracker is being leveraged for dynamic identification of
stunting, wasting, underweight prevalence among children. It has facilitated near real time
data collection for Anganwadi Services such as, opening of AWCs, daily attendance of
children, ECCE activities, Growth Monitoring of children, Provision of Hot Cooked Meal
(HCM)/Take Home Ration (THR-not raw ration), Growth Measurement etc.
• Streamlining Guidelines have been issued by MWCD on Quality Assurance, Roles and
Responsibilities of Duty Holders, procedure for procurement, integrating AYUSH
concepts and Data Management and Monitoring through Poshan Tracker for transparency,
efficiency and accountability in delivery of Supplementary Nutrition. Nutritional Status
and Quality Standards of food items under Supplementary Nutrition are being monitored
at State, District and Village Level.
• The PM JANMAN Mission launched by Ministry of Tribal Affairs aims for targeted
development of 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) residing in 18 States
and a UT. This Mission focuses on 11 critical interventions related to 9 key Ministries
including Ministry of Women and Child Development. As on 30th November 2025, a total
of 2500 AWCs have been approved for construction under PM JANMAN across the
country. A total of 178 AWCs have been approved for construction under PM JANMAN
in the State of Maharashtra.
• Ministry of Tribal Affairs has launched Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Unnat Abhiyan
(DAJGUA) aimed at improving the socio-economic condition of tribal communities byadopting saturation coverage of tribal families in tribal majority areas and Aspirational
Block ST villages.
• Under this Mission, one of the major activities undertaken is Community Mobilization and
Awareness Advocacy to educate people on nutritional aspects as adoption of good nutrition
habit requires sustained efforts for behavioural change. State and UTs are conducting and
reporting regular sensitisation activities under Jan Andolans during Poshan Maah and
Poshan Pakhwada celebrated in the months of September and March-April respectively.
Community Based Events (CBEs) have served as a significant strategy in changing
nutritional practices and all Anganwadi workers are required to conduct two Community
Based Events every month.
*****