26.55% Reduction in Underweight Children

Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) data indicated that under the ICDS scheme 2009-10 to 2013-14, there has been 26.55% reduction in moderately or severely underweight children aged between 0-6 years.

The Union Ministry of Women and Child development is implementing Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), Rajiv Gandhi Schemes for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (RGSEAG) namely SABLA, Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojna (IGMSY) as direct targeted interventions to address the problem of malnutrition in children and pregnant women.

Half of World's Underweight Kids Live in South Asia: Study
In a recent study it was found that half of world's underweight children live in South Asia, mostly in India.

In order to strengthen the efforts to address the food security, Government of India has notified the National Food Security Act, 2013.

The Act provides for coverage upto 75% of the rural population and upto 50% of urban population for receiving food grains at subsidized prices of Rs. 3, 2 & 1 per Kg for rice, wheat and coarse grains respectively under Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), thus covering about two-third of the population.

The Act also has a special focus on nutritional support to women and children.

Survey to Help Tackle Child Malnutrition and Trafficking
A UN official said that with inadequate data on the numbers of children trafficked for labour and sexual exploitation, India and Unicef are conducting a survey across the country to create a baseline for addressing these issues.

To address the issue of malnutrition, a Nationwide Information, Education and Communication campaign against malnutrition was launched during 2012-13. An amount of Rs. 55.69, 84.80 and 20.00 crore was spent for the campaign during the years 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15 respectively.

UN: Global Malnutrition Costs 'Unacceptably High'
According to the United Nations, malnutrition problems cost the world 3.5 trillion dollars, where 500 dollars are spent on every person for improving health and avoiding lost productivity.

Source-Medindia

Study Reveals 15 Million Babies are Born Preterm Each Year
A UN-sponsored report released Wednesday revealed fifteen million babies, or one in 10 babies around the world are born premature every year, and 1.1 million of those infants die.