State Government : More than 1.37 lakh children malnourished in the state; State Government's admission in the High Court

The serious issue of malnutrition in the state has once again come to the forefront, with shocking information presented by the state government in the High Court that more than 1.37 lakh children are malnourished. The government admitted this while presenting detailed data from the past three years to the court. This statistic has raised questions about the child health system in the state.

This information was provided by the state government during the hearing of a public interest petition ongoing in the High Court. According to the presented statistics, the rate of severe and moderate malnutrition in many districts of the state is alarming. The data clearly shows that the number of malnourished children is higher, especially in tribal and remote areas. Although various government schemes have been implemented over the past three years, it was also acknowledged at this time that the issue of malnutrition has not been completely resolved.

The state government informed the court that efforts are underway to reduce malnutrition through initiatives such as Anganwadi services, nutrition diet plans, and maternal-child health programs. However, due to the impact of the COVID period, economic difficulties, migration, and limited access to health services, expected control over malnutrition has not been achieved. It was also noted that many children are found to have low weight, stunted growth, and anemia.

The court expressed deep concern about this situation and directed the government to implement concrete and effective measures for the eradication of malnutrition. Additionally, the court emphasized the need to focus on identifying malnourished children, regular check-ups, the supply of nutritious food, and improving the quality of health services.

Meanwhile, social organizations and child rights activists have also expressed concern over these statistics, stating that malnutrition is not just a health issue but a matter of social and administrative failure. The admission that more than 1.37 lakh children in the state are malnourished is considered a serious warning for the government, and everyone is watching to see what concrete steps are taken in the coming period.