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“...the problem of malnutrition is a matter of national shame. Despite impressive growth in our GDP, the level of under-nutrition in the country is unacceptably high,” he said releasing a report on Hunger and Malnutrition (HUNGaMA) here.
Pointing out that India had not succeeded in reducing the levels of malnutrition fast enough, he said, "Though the ICDS continues to be our most important tool to fight malnutrition, we can no longer rely solely on it."
The HUNGaMA report states that the prevalence of child underweight has decreased from 53 per cent to 42 per cent, marking a 20.3 per cent fall over a seven year period with an average annual rate of reduction of 2.9 per cent.
The survey found that the rates of child malnutrition were still unacceptably high in the 100 focus districts with the poorest child development indicators where over 40 per cent of children were underweight and almost 60 per cent stunted.
“We need to focus on districts where malnutrition levels are high and where conditions causing malnutrition prevail,” Singh said.
He said policy makers and programme implementers need to clearly understand many linkages -- between education and health, sanitation and hygiene, drinking water and nutrition – and then shape their responses accordingly.
Singh pointed out that while the survey reports high levels of malnutrition, it also indicates that one child in five has reached an acceptable healthy weight during the last seven years in 100 focus districts.
“This 20 per cent decline in malnourishment in the last seven years is better than the rate of decline reported in National Family Health Survey-III,” he said.
“However, what concerns me is that 42 per cent of our children are still underweight. This is an unacceptably high occurrence,” he said.
The report, on the survey conducted by Naandi Foundation, has been made at the insistence of the Citizens' Alliance against Malnutrition which comprises young parliamentarians, artistes, directors, social activists and policy makers.
The Prime Minister said his government was working to launch a strengthened and restructured ICDS; to start a multi-sectoral programme for 200 high burden districts and to initiate a nationwide communication campaign against malnutrition.
“The fact is that while India has been progressing quite a lot in the last 20 years, the fight against the malnutrition has not made as much progress,” BJD MP Jay Panda, a member of the Alliance, told reporters here.
He said the Alliance will now adopt three blocks in Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan and apply some of the learnings from the report to show that malnutrition can be tackled at a much more rapid pace.
Among those present at the function to release the report at the Prime Minister's residence included Union Minister Sachin Pilot, filmmaker-turned-MP Shyam Benegal, actor Rahul Bose, singer Penaz Masani, MPs Jay Panda, Jyoti Mirdha, Madhu Yaski Goud and Shahnawaz Hussain.
Panda said the Prime Minister has recognised that addressing the challenge of malnutrition has to be one of the highest priorities for India.
He said the report, which has been released, has documented the situation in various parts of the country.
“The fact is that while India has been progressing quite a lot in the last 20 years, the fight against malnutrition has not made much progress. So we need to prioritise it,” Panda said.
He said the Citizens Alliance Against Malnutrition comprises many MPs across politicial lines from various parties and it also involves celebrities from bollywood, professionals, NGOs and supporters of the corporate social responsibilities.
“We have been taking this issue to political leaders at state and Central level. Both in the opposition and the government.
“We have been going on field visits, we have been comparing different methodologies and we are now going to adopt three blocks in three states – Orissa, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan -- and we will apply some of the learnings to these blocks to show that malnutrition can be tackled at the much more rapid pace. And hopefully, we will make more progress than we have been making," he said.
Filmmaker and Rajya Sabha MP Shyam Benegal said addressing the issue of malnutrition is a time taking process.
He said the survey will give a "fairly accurate picture" on how things are working on the ground.
“Eventually, it is a two-pronged thing. One is an initiative from the Government. On the other hand you also have to look at the fact that people for whom it is meant for need to, they must get motivated. It is a question of entitlement as well. Unless the entitlement with the offer come together is not going to work well,” Benegal said.
BJP MP Shahnawaz Hussain said, “All political parties are together in its fight against malnutrition. There is no politics in it.”
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Our top economist PM accepted that india became next SOMALIA and behind this Congress govt is responsible becoze they only mere to concern for growth of 10% people and 90% are left out. The majority of Indian public are still can not buy fruits for their childern. So its shame for congress party and not for the country. They always retain in power with the help of muslim vote bank and join hands as opportunist with LEFT, ADMK, TC, SP,RJD,BSP to retain in power. So these party who support congress in center must be punished in election.
Why not make India a Developed Country and let all Indians earn a decent living? Why not bring Black Money to India and use for the Development of India and Indians? Why not Pass the Jan Lokpal Bill?
Cooker kills 93 % of nutrition due to 400 deg C. And in polished rice we loose almost 90%. The rest is fed to our kids 3 times a day. Polished rice is like maida - and no doubt we have such high rate of diabetes in previous generation.
What a shame that this has dawned on the PM and his party that has had the majority stint of ruling the nation, after over a decade and half!
You ministers don't have time to think about poors. That is the reason once you come to power start developing your tummies.
It is a very sorry situation in our country that children go hungry. As individuals we pay taxes (Income, Cess, VAT etc). We are sharing our responsibility really well. But the rule makers and enforcers are not sharing their responsibility equally. Shame on the government that has failed to do something about this.
Mr. Manmohan Singh, you as a PM is the biggest national shame! You never went to people for a mandate, nor should you go to the people, because if you go to people for their mandate, they will never elect you, which is again a shame! The best job for you is to find a job somewhere within your Madam Sonia's office, and mind it, you should not hold a position of decision making, which you can never administer, you should get the job of a "Yes" man.
The PM Manmohan Singh,Sonia Gandhi were conveniently ignorant of the unacceptable malnutrition levels of children from 2004,when the CWG Scam,2G Scam,and the scam money could have been spent for Malnutritioned Children,under 5 mortality situation would have been drastically better.When Supreme Court asked on the rotting food grains in FCI Godowns and the number of crores of illegal beneficiaries in PDS to white card holders and PDS shops selling the subsidised food grains,pulses,oil,Kerosene in Black,then the PM,Sonia Gandhi and Congress Party and UPA1 allies and UPA2 allies MP's of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha turned a deliberate blind eye to the problem of Malnutrition and now when the want to pass the Rs 1/Kg food to 65% of population as an electoral freebie for votes&power these MP's,MLA'sare now concerned of the unacceptable Malnutrition in children in 2012 just before 5 state assembly elections.Aam Aaadmi government of Congress of UPA1&UPA2 MP's is cruel joke on the poor people.
PM is talking as if he doesn't belong to nation, He has become Italian lady's servant. It is his governments responsibility, but shamelessly he will point fingers at state Governments or RSS under the guidance of Rahul/ sonia stooges. I'm sure He will announce some scheme named after Fake Gandhi family and then will be a mute spectator of scams to follow. Why can't he penalize all his party ministers and chief to bring back their black money for welfare of future Indians. Shame on being remote controlled puppet PM for so long!! Must resign instead of talking with such results.
Everything is there but no enhanced monitoring and evaluation programs on such precarious schemes. Also needed to work on this area authentically in a concrete way. We know everything. We can do everything. We can resolve such problems. The Ground realities are there in front of all of us.. But what stops us? thats's the question.
Shame for whom? One, who is reading the text or one who is parroting it. And at the end who is responsible. We gave you the mandate for eradicating some of it. But it has increased over a period of time. One fact which is missing from the report is how much % is in the opposition and how much in Congress ruled states. If it is equal, then let Rahul not speak that his party will transform UP in Five years' time.
Dont these statistics tell you so? So what is the point of talking rubbish about shame, etc. Be brave and state facts as they are: WE ARE COMPLETE FAILURES - needs to be said loud and clear by the govt. And we citizens are ASHAMED of you - corrupt, shameless so-called 'leaders' in a country where 1 out of 3 people are starving and dying.
It is Manmohan Singh who is responsible for malnutrition, atleast duting the last eight years. It was more important for him to spend thousands of crores rupees on Nehru Stadium, Indira Gandhi Stadium, Rajiv Auditoriums and son; this well could have been used to construct grain storage facilities. Isn't WB right in renaming a building from "Indira ....."
EUREKA! The PM has just found out malnutrition is the bane of children. Umpteen reports have highlighted this feature. What is the health and familiy welfare ministries doing. We are busy fighting with the deans of hospitals and providing VVIP treatment to political class in our hospitals. Like Siddarth, later on Gautam Buddha, our PM should take a tour-he will know the plight of the people. Has he ever gone around Delhi in the recent cold weather to find the plight of the homeless. The PM should come out of his sphinx like silence and poker face to find the realities of life.