**Executive Summary**
This document is the answer to Unstarred Question No. 1155 in Lok Sabha to be answered on February 6th, 2026, regarding health programmes in tribal-dominated districts in India. The question, posed by multiple members of parliament, seeks details on health and nutrition programs, changes in health indicators, assessments of high-burden districts, corrective measures, and proposals from Maharashtra regarding Palghar district. The answer is provided by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, outlining various initiatives and support mechanisms provided by the National Health Mission (NHM) and Mission Poshan 2.0.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **National Health Mission (NHM) Support:**
* Provides support for improving health infrastructure and the availability of adequate human resources in health facilities.
* Aims to enhance the availability and accessibility of quality healthcare across the country, including tribal-dominated districts in Andhra Pradesh.
* **Key Initiatives Under NHM:**
* Operationalisation of Ayushman Arogya Mandir (AAM).
* Free Drugs Service Initiative, Free Diagnostic Service Initiative, National Ambulance Services, Mobile Medical Units, ASHAs, 24 x 7 Services and First Referral Facilities.
* Prime Minister's National Dialysis Programme.
* Activities under Reproductive & Child Health.
* Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) strategy.
* TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan.
* Universal Immunization programme.
* **Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health and Nutrition (RMNCAH+N) Strategy:**
* Implemented in a life cycle approach under NHM.
* Includes interventions to increase awareness and address undernutrition, including calorie deficiency and protein malnutrition.
* Focused on Hazaribagh and Ramgarh districts in Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh.
* **Facility Based New-born Care:**
* Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs)/ Special Newborn Care Units (SNCUs) established at Medical Colleges and District Hospitals.
* New-born Stabilization Units (NBSUs) established at First Referral Units (FRUs)/Community Health Centres (CHCs).
* **Other Key Initiatives:**
* Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) for low birth weight/pre-term babies.
* Mothers' Absolute Affection (MAA) promoting early breastfeeding practices.
* Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres (NRCs) for children with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM).
* Lactation Management Centres to ensure availability of Mother's Own Milk or safe, pasteurized Donor Human Milk.
* **Anemia Mukt Bharat (AMB):**
* Implemented to reduce anemia prevalence among six beneficiary groups.
* Includes National Deworming Day (NDD), Vitamin A supplementation Programme, Home Based New-born Care (HBNC), and Monthly Village Health, Sanitation and Nutrition Day (VHSND).
* **Mission Poshan 2.0:**
* Focuses on Maternal Nutrition, Infant and Young Child Feeding Norms, and treatment of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM)/ Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM).
* Emphasizes wellness through AYUSH practices and supplementary nutrition for children, pregnant women, lactating mothers, and adolescent girls at Anganwadi centers.
* **Data Collection and Monitoring:**
* National Family Health Survey (NFHS) provides data on major changes in anaemia, malnutrition, and maternal health indicators.
* Census of India provides population and household details.
* National Sample Survey conducts household surveys.
* **Support to States/UTs:**
* The Ministry provides technical and financial support to strengthen the public healthcare system in rural areas.
* Support is based on Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) and Record of Proceedings (RoPs).
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Tribal Communities**
* **Impact:** The health and nutrition programmes aim to improve overall health outcomes, reduce malnutrition and anemia, and provide better access to healthcare services.
* **Action Required:** To actively participate in the programs, utilize available resources, and adhere to health guidelines.
**Stakeholder: State Governments (Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra)**
* **Impact:** These states are the focus of specific questions regarding programme implementation and effectiveness.
* **Action Required:** To continue implementing and monitoring health and nutrition programmes, address gaps in healthcare delivery, and submit proposals for additional support. Maharashtra specifically needs to submit/follow up with proposals for Palghar district.
**Stakeholder: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare**
* **Impact:** Responsible for providing support, guidance, and resources for the implementation of health programs in tribal-dominated districts.
* **Action Required:** To continue monitoring the effectiveness of the programs, addressing any challenges, and providing support to the states for program implementation.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: Union ministry responsible for health and family welfare in India; primary subject of the parliamentary question.
National Health Mission (NHM): A centrally sponsored scheme providing support to improve health infrastructure and outcomes, particularly in tribal areas.
Andhra Pradesh: State of India; specifically mentioned as relevant for details on health and nutrition programmes and indicators.
Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB): Strategy to reduce the prevalence of anemia among children, adolescents and women.
Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health and Nutrition (RMNCAH+N) strategy: Implemented under NHM, addresses undernutrition and awareness through a life cycle approach.
GOVERNMENT OFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTHAND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENT OFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 1155
TOBE ANSWERED ON6thFEBRUARY,2026
HEALTH PROGRAMMES IN TRIBALDOMINATEDDISTRICTS
†1155.SHRIDILIPSAIKIA:
SHRILAVUSRIKRISHNADEVARAYALU:
SHRIMAHESHKASHYAP:
SHRIMANISH JAISWAL:
SHRIANANTANAYAK:
SHRIBHOJRAJ NAG:
SHRIANUPSANJAYDHOTRE:
SHRIYADUVEERWADIYAR:
SMT.BIJULI KALITAMEDHI:
DR. HEMANTVISHNU SAVARA:
Will the Ministerof HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:
(a) the details of the various health and nutrition programmes implemented in tribal-
dominated districts of the country over the last three years, year-wise and State/UT-wise,
particularlyinAndhra Pradesh;
(b) whether the recent data shows any changes in anaemia, malnutrition or maternal health
indicatorsamongthe tribal population;
(c)if so, the detailsthereof, State/UT-wise, particularlyinAndhra Pradesh;
(d) whether any assessment has been carried out to identify high-burden tribal districts in the
countryandif so, the detailsthereof, State/UT-wise, particularlyinAndhra Pradesh;
(e) the details of the corrective measures planned or implemented for districts with high rates
of malnutrition to address gaps in healthcare delivery and nutrition outcomes, State/UT-wise
and district-wise, particularly in the Hazaribagh and Ramgarh districts in Jharkhand and
Andhra Pradesh;and
(f) whether anyproposal hasbeenreceived bythe Government from the StateGovernment of
Maharashtra regarding healthandnutrition programmesinthe Palghar district inMaharashtra
during the year2025-26 andif so, the details thereofalongwith the actiontakenthereon?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILY
WELFARE
(SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV)
(a) to (f): The National Health Mission (NHM) provides support for improvement in health
infrastructure, availability of adequate human resources in health facilities, to improveavailability and accessibility to quality healthcare across the country including tribal-
dominateddistricts inAndhra Pradesh.
Various initiatives carried out under NHM by the Government of India in the country
including Andhra Pradesh are operationalisation of Ayushman Arogya Mandir (AAM), Free
Drugs Service Initiative, Free Diagnostic Service Initiative, National Ambulance Services,
Mobile Medical Units, ASHAs, 24 x 7 Services and First Referral Facilities, PrimeMinister's
National Dialysis Programme, various activities under Reproductive & Child Health,
Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) strategy, TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan and Universal
Immunizationprogramme.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is implementing Reproductive, Maternal,
Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health and Nutrition (RMNCAH+N) strategy in a life cycle
approach under NHM, which includes interventions to increase awareness and address
undernutrition including calorie deficiency and protein malnutrition across the country,
including Hazaribagh and Ramgarh districts in Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh as placed
below:
Facility Based New-born Care: Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs)/ Special
Newborn Care Units (SNCUs) are established at Medical College and District Hospital,
New-born Stabilization Units (NBSUs) are established at First Referral Units
(FRUs)/Community HealthCentres (CHCs)for care of sick andsmall babies.
Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) is implemented at facility and community level for
low birth weight/ pre-term babies. It includes early and prolonged skin-to-skin contact
with the motheror family memberandexclusive andfrequent breastfeeding.
Mothers’AbsoluteAffection(MAA): Earlyinitiationandexclusive breastfeedingfor
first six months and appropriate Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices are
promotedunderMothers’ Absolute Affection (MAA).
Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres (NRCs) are established at public health facilities
where children with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) and medical complications are
admittedfor treatment.
Lactation Management Centres are established to ensure availability of Mother’s
Own Milk or safe, pasteurized Donor Human Milk for feeding of sick, preterm, lowbirth
weight babies admitted in Neonatal Intensive Care Units and Special Newborn Care
Units.
Anemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) is implemented to reduce the prevalence of anemia
among six beneficiary groups - Children (6-59 months), Children (5-9 years),
Adolescents (10-19 years), Women of reproductive age (15-49 years), pregnant women
andlactatingmothers ina lifecycleapproach.
National Deworming Day (NDD)
Vitamin AsupplementationProgramme
Home Based New-born Care (HBNC) and Home-Based Care of Young
Children(HBYC) programme
Monthly Village Health,Sanitation andNutrition Day (VHSND)Under Mission Poshan 2.0, the Government focuses on Maternal Nutrition, Infant and Young
Child Feeding Norms, treatment of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM)/ Moderate Acute
Malnutrition (MAM)andwellnessthrough AYUSHpracticestoreduce prevalenceofwasting,
stunting, anaemia and being underweight. Supplementary Nutrition is provided to children
age 6 months to 6 years, pregnant women, lactating mothers and adolescent girls at
Anganwadi centres as per nutrition norms, based on principles of diet diversity that provides
quality protein,healthy fatsandmicronutrients.
There are various mechanisms and survey agencies which generate data on tribal healthcare
on a periodic basis. National Family Health Survey (NFHS) provides details on major
changesinanaemia,malnutrition andmaternalhealthindicators amongthe high-burdentribal
districts across the country. Census of India provides population and household details
including Tribal areas. National Sample Surveyprovideshousehold surveys onvarioussocio-
economic subjects. The State-wise list of key indicators NFHS-5 may be extracted from
belowmentionedlink:
http://rchiips.org/nfhs/districtfactsheet_NFHS-5.shtml
Under NHM, this Ministry provides technical and financial support to the States/UTs,
including Maharashtra, to strengthen the public healthcare system in rural areas, based on the
proposals received in the form of Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs). Government of
India provides approval for the proposals received in the form of Record of Proceedings
(RoPs) aspernorms& available resources.
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