Paper: GS-II, Subject: Society and Social Justice, Topic: Poverty, Hunger and Malnutrition, Issue: Causes behind India’s stunting crisis.
Context:
Government sets a target to reduce stunting among children by 2% points each year.
Key Highlights:
- Stunting: Child too short for age due to chronic/recurrent malnutrition. It reflects long-term deprivation in nutrition, maternal health, sanitation, and socio-economic factors.
- India’s case:
- 2016: 38.4% children stunted. Target (POSHAN Abhiyaan, 2018): reduce stunting to 25% by 2022 (“Mission 25 by 2022”).
- 2025 data: 37% still stunted (Only marginal improvement)
Current Situation:
Regional Variation (NFHS & POSHAN 2025 Data)
Major Factors Behind Stunting
Consequences of Stunting
- Impaired cognitive development leading to poor school performance.
- Reduced productivity & earning potential causing intergenerational poverty cycle.
- Increased vulnerability to chronic diseases later in life.
Government Initiatives
- POSHAN Abhiyaan (2018): Reduce stunting, anaemia, low birth weight.
- Mission Saksham Anganwadi & Poshan 2.0 (2021): Strengthen ICDS and Anganwadis.
- Mid-Day Meal Scheme / PM-POSHAN: Enhance school nutrition.
- Anaemia Mukt Bharat: Reduce anaemia in children & women.
- Swachh Bharat Mission: Address sanitation and open defecation.
Challenges in Addressing Stunting
- Inadequate convergence between schemes (health, nutrition, sanitation).
- Social taboos & resistance to dietary diversity (e.g., eggs in mid-day meals).
- High rate of early marriages & teenage pregnancies.
- Weak monitoring & accountability.
- Persistent rural–urban, caste, and regional disparities.
Way Forward
Conclusion: Through a targeted approaches like National Nutrition Mission, WHO Global Nutrition Target to reduce stunting by 40% by 2025 can be achieved. World Bank estimates that stunting can reduce GDP by 2–3% annually.
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