Ranchi, Mar 30: The National Family Health Survey 2015-16 has revealed
that 20-40 pc children in the state in the age group of 0-5 years are
facing the threat of malnutrition with Bokaro district topping the
list.
According to the survey once these children fall in the grip of
malnutrition they are most likely to be plagued by various diseases
despite the fact that the state government spends annually a sum of Rs
200 crore in fight against malnutrition.
According to the report in the four districts of the state Bokaro,
Khunti, Dumka and Sahibganj districts the danger of falling prey to
malnutrition among the children was more than 40 per cent, while
Koderma, Giridih and Deoghar stood at the bottom of the index with per
centage ranging from 20-23 pc.
In the districts where the per centage of children hovered around
40-43 pc it was expected that the weight of the children in compared
to their height was very less. As per the survey in nine district
30-40 pc are suspected to fall pray of malnutrition. These included
Dhanbad, Chaibasa, Simdega, Gumla and Lohardaga among others.
The state government to tide over the malnutrition problems is running
various schemes including providing nutritious food to the children at
the anganwadi centers. At the administrative level it is believed that
since the scheme was not properly executed therefore the figures of
malnutrition are not improving in the state. Most recently in a survey
conducted by the state government it was pointed out that even 50 per
cent children in the state capital do not have reach to anganwadi
centers.
Mar302017