India May Be Reversing Decades Of Progress On Child Nutrition, New Govt Data Show
Rukmini S reports
December 13, 2020
India could be seeing an increase in child undernutrition, reversing decades of gains, early data from the just-released first phase of the latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) indicate.
In 18 Of 22 States & UTs Surveyed, Over A Quarter Of Children Are Stunted
India has the largest number of stunted children in the world, and among the highest share of stunted children of any country outside sub-Saharan Africa.
However, between 2005-06 and 2015-16, two previous rounds of the NFHS, India made substantial progress, lowering the share of stunted children by nearly 10 percentage points.
The latest fifth round of NFHS, however, indicates that the last five years could have reversed many of these gains.