Government Schemes Implemented To Combat Malnutrition Among Women In India

The top five states, where the number of malnourished women is very high includes Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa, according to National Family Health Survey (NFHS) -3, 2005-06.The Government has accorded high priority to the issue of malnutrition and is implementing several schemes/programs of different Ministries/Departments through State Governments/UT Administrations.

The schemes/programs include the ICDS Scheme, National Health Mission, Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (RGSEAG)-‘Sabla’, Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojna (IGMSY) as direct targeted interventions, besides, indirect Multi-sectoral interventions include National Food Security Mission, Total Sanitation Campaign, National Rural Drinking Water Programme etc. All these schemes have potential to address one or other aspect related to Nutrition including nutrition of women.

The Ministry of Women & Child Development is implementing programs such as ICDS, RGSEAG namely SABLA, IGMSY as direct targeted interventions. The details are as given below:

• The objective of ICDS is holistic development of children 0-6 yrs, pregnant women and lactating mothers. The objectives are sought to be achieved through a package of six services comprising (i) supplementary nutrition (ii) immunization, (iii) health check-up, (iv) referral services, (v) pre-school non-formal education and (vi) nutrition and health education.
• The ‘Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (RGSEAG)–‘Sabla’, a Centrally-sponsored scheme introduced in the year 2010-11 on a pilot basis. At present it is being implemented in 205 districts from all the States/UTs. Sabla aims at all-round development of adolescent girls of 11-18 years by making them ‘self reliant’. The scheme has two major components: Nutrition and Non Nutrition Component.
• Indira Gandhi MatritvaSahyogYojana (IGMSY), Conditional Maternity Benefit (CMB) is a centrally sponsored scheme for pregnant and lactating (P & L) women to improve their health & nutrition status to enabling better environment by providing cash incentives to them. The scheme was introduced in October, 2010 on pilot basis and now operational in 53 districts across the country. The scheme envisages providing cash directly to the beneficiaries through their Bank /Post Office Accounts. As per provision of the National Food Security Act, 2013, the Ministry has revised the entitlement of maternity benefit from Rs. 4000 to Rs. 6000/- per beneficiary.

This information was given by the Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt Maneka Sanjay Gandhi in reply to a starred question in Rajya Sabha.

Source-Medindia