Indian children grossly underweight or stunted across Indian states
41 percent children underweight in Bihar, 46 percent stunted in Manipur between 2019 to 2020 as per Centre's submission during the ongoing monsoon session; Centre could provide data only for 22 States and Union Territories
Image Courtesy:businesstoday.in
Smriti Irani, the Minister of Women and Child Development, referred to the recently released report of National Family Health Survey-5 (2019-20) to give details about malnourished children in the country.
As per the latest data between 2019 to 2020, Bihar has the highest number of underweight children at 41 percent. This is followed by Gujarat at 39.7 percent and Dadar & Nagar Haveli & Daman & Diu at 38.7 percent. Maharashtra has recorded 36.1 percent underweight children, Karnataka is at 32.9 percent, Assam at 32.8 percent, West Bengal at 32.2 percent and Telangana at 31.8 percent. Mizoram has the lowest number of underweight children (12.7 percent).
Between 2018 and 2019, Dadar reported 35.8 percent underweight children, 3 percent less than the latest data. Similarly, there has been a 0.5 percent increase in Gujarat, 0.1 percent in Maharashtra, 3 percent in Assam and 0.6 percent in West Bengal. Out of the 22 States and UTs, 17 have reported an increase in the percentage of underweight children from 2018-2019 to 2019-2020. Nagaland has the highest disparity, with around 16 percent underweight children in 2018 to 2019, which increased to 26.9 percent between 2019 and 2020. Here are some more statistics in percentage regarding stunted children:
States/UTs |
2018-2019 |
2019-2020 |
Andaman & Nicobar |
21.6 |
23.7 |
Andhra Pradesh |
31.9 |
29.6 |
Goa |
23.8 |
24 |
Himachal Pradesh |
21.2 |
25.5 |
Jammu & Kashmir |
16.6 |
21 |
Kerala |
16.1 |
19.7 |
Ladakh |
23.6 |
25.8 |
Lakshadweep |
18.7 |
20.4 |
In terms of stunted children, Manipur is the leading State at 46.5 percent between 2019 and 2020, a 2.7 percent increase since 2018 and 2019. This is followed by Bihar at 42.9 percent, Dadar & Nagar Haveli & Daman & Diu at 39.4 percent and Gujarat at 39 percent. Here are some more statistics in percentage regarding stunted children:
States/UTs |
2018-2019 |
2019-2020 |
Andaman & Nicobar |
23.5 |
22.5 |
Andhra Pradesh |
31.4 |
31.2 |
Assam |
36.4 |
35.3 |
Goa |
20.1 |
25.8 |
Himachal Pradesh |
26.3 |
30.8 |
Jammu & Kashmir |
27.4 |
26.9 |
Karnataka |
36.2 |
35.4 |
Kerala |
19.7 |
23.4 |
Ladakh |
26.8 |
32 |
Lakshadweep |
30.9 |
30.5 |
Maharashtra |
34.4 |
35.2 |
Meghalaya |
28.9 |
23.4 |
Mizoram |
28.1 |
28.9 |
Sikkim |
29.6 |
22.3 |
Telangana |
28 |
33.1 |
Tripura |
24.3 |
32.3 |
West Bengal |
32.5 |
33.8 |
The Centre could not provide the latest data for states like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand and Odisha. But data from 2018 to 2019 reveals the grim situation of children in these regions. Jharkhand seems to be in a bad condition with about 45.3 percent stunted children and 47.8 percent underweight children. Uttar Pradesh is not far behind with 46.3 percent stunted children and 39.5 percent underweight children. Rajasthan has 39.1 percent stunted children and 36.7 percent malnourished children.
Earlier, during the Budget Session of 2021, the same Minister of Women and Child Development had provided in her written answer that 21.9 percent children were stunted, 35.2 percent were underweight in the age group of 5 – 9 years and 24.1 percent children were underweight in the age group of 10-19 years between 2016 and 2018, as we has previously reported in SabrangIndia.
The answer may be read here:
Related:
No intention to bring in two child policy, fertility rates have declined: Centre in LS
Over 20 percent children stunted, 35 percent underweight between 2016-2018: Centre to RS
Over 1.4 crore children in Bihar don’t have access to digital devices: Centre in LS
Fund crunch to delay adding breakfast under Mid-Day Meal scheme
Indian children grossly underweight or stunted across Indian states
41 percent children underweight in Bihar, 46 percent stunted in Manipur between 2019 to 2020 as per Centre's submission during the ongoing monsoon session; Centre could provide data only for 22 States and Union Territories
Image Courtesy:businesstoday.in
Smriti Irani, the Minister of Women and Child Development, referred to the recently released report of National Family Health Survey-5 (2019-20) to give details about malnourished children in the country.
As per the latest data between 2019 to 2020, Bihar has the highest number of underweight children at 41 percent. This is followed by Gujarat at 39.7 percent and Dadar & Nagar Haveli & Daman & Diu at 38.7 percent. Maharashtra has recorded 36.1 percent underweight children, Karnataka is at 32.9 percent, Assam at 32.8 percent, West Bengal at 32.2 percent and Telangana at 31.8 percent. Mizoram has the lowest number of underweight children (12.7 percent).
Between 2018 and 2019, Dadar reported 35.8 percent underweight children, 3 percent less than the latest data. Similarly, there has been a 0.5 percent increase in Gujarat, 0.1 percent in Maharashtra, 3 percent in Assam and 0.6 percent in West Bengal. Out of the 22 States and UTs, 17 have reported an increase in the percentage of underweight children from 2018-2019 to 2019-2020. Nagaland has the highest disparity, with around 16 percent underweight children in 2018 to 2019, which increased to 26.9 percent between 2019 and 2020. Here are some more statistics in percentage regarding stunted children:
States/UTs |
2018-2019 |
2019-2020 |
Andaman & Nicobar |
21.6 |
23.7 |
Andhra Pradesh |
31.9 |
29.6 |
Goa |
23.8 |
24 |
Himachal Pradesh |
21.2 |
25.5 |
Jammu & Kashmir |
16.6 |
21 |
Kerala |
16.1 |
19.7 |
Ladakh |
23.6 |
25.8 |
Lakshadweep |
18.7 |
20.4 |
In terms of stunted children, Manipur is the leading State at 46.5 percent between 2019 and 2020, a 2.7 percent increase since 2018 and 2019. This is followed by Bihar at 42.9 percent, Dadar & Nagar Haveli & Daman & Diu at 39.4 percent and Gujarat at 39 percent. Here are some more statistics in percentage regarding stunted children:
States/UTs |
2018-2019 |
2019-2020 |
Andaman & Nicobar |
23.5 |
22.5 |
Andhra Pradesh |
31.4 |
31.2 |
Assam |
36.4 |
35.3 |
Goa |
20.1 |
25.8 |
Himachal Pradesh |
26.3 |
30.8 |
Jammu & Kashmir |
27.4 |
26.9 |
Karnataka |
36.2 |
35.4 |
Kerala |
19.7 |
23.4 |
Ladakh |
26.8 |
32 |
Lakshadweep |
30.9 |
30.5 |
Maharashtra |
34.4 |
35.2 |
Meghalaya |
28.9 |
23.4 |
Mizoram |
28.1 |
28.9 |
Sikkim |
29.6 |
22.3 |
Telangana |
28 |
33.1 |
Tripura |
24.3 |
32.3 |
West Bengal |
32.5 |
33.8 |
The Centre could not provide the latest data for states like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand and Odisha. But data from 2018 to 2019 reveals the grim situation of children in these regions. Jharkhand seems to be in a bad condition with about 45.3 percent stunted children and 47.8 percent underweight children. Uttar Pradesh is not far behind with 46.3 percent stunted children and 39.5 percent underweight children. Rajasthan has 39.1 percent stunted children and 36.7 percent malnourished children.
Earlier, during the Budget Session of 2021, the same Minister of Women and Child Development had provided in her written answer that 21.9 percent children were stunted, 35.2 percent were underweight in the age group of 5 – 9 years and 24.1 percent children were underweight in the age group of 10-19 years between 2016 and 2018, as we has previously reported in SabrangIndia.
The answer may be read here:
Related:
No intention to bring in two child policy, fertility rates have declined: Centre in LS
Over 20 percent children stunted, 35 percent underweight between 2016-2018: Centre to RS
Over 1.4 crore children in Bihar don’t have access to digital devices: Centre in LS
Fund crunch to delay adding breakfast under Mid-Day Meal scheme
Related Articles
Theme

Taliban in Afghanistan: A look back

Campaigns
Videos
Communalism
Bastar violence: Anti-Christian Campaign causes breach in Adivasi unity
Hundreds of Adivasi church-goers across villages in Narayanpur and Bastar, Chhattisgarh have been experiencing boycott, intimidation and violence since December last year, forcing them to leave their homes and live in refugee camps. Reportedly, Adivasi districts across Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh is seeing a rise Hindutva mobilisation against Christians .
Communalism
Bastar violence: Anti-Christian Campaign causes breach in Adivasi unity
Hundreds of Adivasi church-goers across villages in Narayanpur and Bastar, Chhattisgarh have been experiencing boycott, intimidation and violence since December last year, forcing them to leave their homes and live in refugee camps. Reportedly, Adivasi districts across Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh is seeing a rise Hindutva mobilisation against Christians .
Archives
IN FACT
Podcasts
Analysis

Taliban in Afghanistan: A look back

Children
Bengaluru: Nearly 80 percent students demand eggs in mid-day meal, finds opinion poll