Parliament Question: Prevalence of Anaemia

GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 4649 TO BE ANSWERED ONTHE 20TH MARCH’2026 PREVALENCEOFANAEMIA 4649. SHRI VARUN CHAUDHRY: Will the Ministerof HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate: (a) whether it is a fact that there is a high prevalence of anaemia in the country and if so, the details thereof; (b) the details of the total expenditure and expenditure on awareness programmes for Anaemia Mukt Bharat since 2018, year-wise; (c) the number of persons screened under sickle cell anaemia elimination vis a vis the targets set by the department since 2018, year-wise and State-wise; and (d) whether the aim of reducing the prevalence of anaemia by three percent per year is being met since 2018, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor along with the action taken by the Government to achieve the targets in the future? ANSWER THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SMT. ANUPRIYAPATEL) (a) The national prevalence of anaemia in children, adolescents and women as per National Family Health Survey 5 (2019-21) is placed at Annexure I. (b) The details of funds approved and expenditure on Anaemia Mukt Bharat under National Health Mission across the country from the period of FY 2021-22 to FY 2024-25 is placedat Annexure II. (c) Under National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission, affordable, accessible and quality care is provided to Sickle Cell Disease patients through awareness creation, targeted screening in the age group of 0-40 years in affected districts of tribal areas and counselling through collaborative efforts of Central and State Government. As reported by state on SCD portal as on 15.03.2026, more than 6.97 crore screening have been conducted in tribal dominated areas across the country. State-wise details of cumulative number of people screened under National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission is provided at Annexure III.(d)To reduce the prevalenceof anaemia amongchildrenandwomen the Government of India implements Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) programme across the country through a 6X6X6 strategy. This includes six interventions which are Prophylactic Iron and Folic Acid supplementation, Deworming to prevent Soil transmitted helminths infestation, Intensified Behavioural Change Communication campaign, Testing for anaemia and treatment as per anaemia management protocols, Mandatory provision of IFA fortified food in public health programmes and addressing non nutritional causes of anaemia especially malaria, fluorosis andhemoglobinopathiesimplemented via robust institutional mechanism. The proactive measures include digital interventions for testing and tracking, active review and monitoring line listed anaemic beneficiaries, and follow-up by ASHA, ANM at field level, IEC and behaviour change targeted to prevent normalizing anemia and to promote uptake of iron richfoods available locally. Regular National level reviews, along with supportive supervision visits and Common Review Mission tours of the States/UTs are undertaken to support and strengthen the Nutrition interventions in the States/UTs including anaemia among children. *****Annexurereferredtointhereplytopart(a)ofLokSabhaUnstarredQuestionNo.4649foranswer on20.03.2026 Annexure I Prevalence of AnaemiaamongChildren andWomenasperNFHS 5(2019-21) Region/ area Anaemia in Anaemia in Anaemia in Anaemia in Children 6-59 Adolescent all Women pregnant women months(%) girls (15-19 (15-49 years) (15-49 years) (%) years) (%) (%) India 67.1 59.1 57.0 52.2Annexurereferredtointhereplytopart(b)ofLokSabhaUnstarredQuestionNo.4649 foranswer on20.03.2026 Annexure II Details of funds approvedandexpenditure onAnaemia MuktBharatunderNational HealthMission from theperiodof FY2021-22 to FY2024-25 Approvals Expenditure S.No. FinancialYear (inLakhs) (inLakhs) 1 FY2021-22* 220371.28 161369.22 2 FY2022-23 80175.41 27067.96 3 FY2023-24 98479.11 33560.26 4 FY2024-25 80914.77 31499.49 1.SPIPApprovalandExpenditureisaspertheavailableFinancialManagementReportssubmitted byState/UTsandareprovisional.Source:NHMFinance 2.ExpenditureincludesExpenditureagainstCentralRelease,CorrespondingStatesharerelease& unspentbalancesatthebeginningoftheyear. 3.*theabovedatacomprisesofinteraliafollowupmechanismfortheseverelyanaemicwomenand thewomenwithblooddisorders,onedayorientationoffrontlineworkers(ASHA/ANM)andallied departmentworkers(Teachers/AWW)onAnaemiaMuktBharat strategyasperRCHtraining normsandcomponentofAMBPrograms.Annexurereferredtointhereplytopart(c)ofLok SabhaUnstarredQuestionNo.4649foranswer on20.03.2026 Annexure III State-wise detailsof cumulativenumberof peoplescreened underNationalSickleCell AnaemiaElimination Mission (ason15.03.2026) S.No. StateName CumulativeNumberof peoplescreened 1 Chhattisgarh 1,73,52,532 2 Madhya Pradesh 1,30,97,122 3 Maharashtra 1,00,33,422 4 Gujarat 80,23,780 5 Odisha 62,71,477 6 Rajasthan 37,06,695 7 Jharkhand 27,88,493 8 West Bengal 25,00,170 9 Andhra Pradesh 14,89,997 10 Assam 11,82,605 11 Telangana 11,37,233 12 Uttar Pradesh 7,64,871 13 Tamil Nadu 4,51,564 14 Karnataka 3,57,266 15 Bihar 2,40,334 16 Uttarakhand 1,53,670 17 Kerala 1,77,959 Total 6,97,29,190 Source: SCDPortal