**12.2 Related indicators**


**Figure 10** shows the comparison of nutrition indicators as per NFHS-3 and NFHS-4.

#### **12.3 Status of child mortality in India**


The state of malnutrition in India is alarming and disturbing. A lot of work has been done, progress has been made but definitely pace of improvement is too slow. Following table shows the current status of important child health indicators and time bound targets to be achieved under National Health policy and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).


The Government of India enacted the National Food Security Act (NFSA) in 2013 to enable food and nutritional security by ensuring access to adequate quantity of quality food at affordable prices to people to live a life with dignity. This legal

b. Goiter Control Programme, 1962 (now known as National Iodine Deficiency

f. Prophylaxis Programme against Blindness due to Vitamin A Deficiency, 1970

p. National Health Mission, 2013 (subsumes former Rural and Urban Health

q. Promotion of Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices Guidelines, 2013

v. Establishment of: Nutritional Rehabilitation Centres; Village Health

provision has put the onus on the state to guarantee basic entitlements.

**13.3 Plans, programmes and missions**

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.89701*

*Childhood Malnutrition in India*

a. Mid-day Meal Programme, 1962–1963

c. Special Nutrition Programme, 1970–1971

d. Balwadi Nutrition Programme, 1970–1971

j. National Plan of Action on Nutrition, 1995

l. The National Population Policy (NPP) 2000

o. National Health Mission (NRHM—2005–2017)

r. Weekly Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation, 2015

t. Sustainable Development Goals (2016–2030)

Missions) National Iron+ Initiative, 2013

k. Public Distribution System, 1997

m. The National Health Policy 2002

n. National Nutrition Mission, 2003

s. National Deworming Day, 2015

u. New National Health Policy, 2017

**25**

Sanitation & Nutrition Committee

e. Nutritional Anaemia Prophylaxis Programme, 1970

g. Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), 1975

h. National Diarrhoeal Diseases Control Programme, 1981

i. Wheat-based Supplementary Nutrition Programme, 1986

Disorders Control Programme)

#### **Table 2.**

*Targets for child mortality in India.*

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were released by the UN in 2016 (till 2030) showing unfinished agenda of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) ended in 2015. SDG 2 calls to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture whereas SDG 3 calls to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages (**Table 2**).
