Congress Criticizes Government Over Alarming Child Malnutrition Data

Congress has criticized the government, labeling the alarming rates of child malnutrition in India as a 'human tragedy.' Recent data reveals that 17% of children aged 0-5 years are underweight, 36% are stunted, and 6% are wasted. Concerns are raised over the long-term socio-economic impacts.

The Congress on Saturday attacked the government over the issue of child malnutrition, labeling it a ''human tragedy’’ and warning that ''India's future was being gutted before our eyes.''

The criticism followed a report by the women and child development ministry, which on Friday stated that about 17 percent of children aged 0-5 years are underweight, 36 percent are stunted, and six percent are wasted.

Congress general secretary in-charge communications, Jairam Ramesh, voiced strong concerns. ''The non-biological PM's government has admitted that more than 50 percent of children under the age of five in India suffer from chronic malnutrition. Seventeen percent are underweight, 36 percent are stunted, and six percent are wasted,'' he said, adding, ''This is a human tragedy and a looming socio-economic disaster. Child malnutrition has severe consequences on long-term health, as well as educational, social, and economic outcomes. India's future is being gutted before our eyes.''

Ramesh also criticized the government's decision to reject the extension of midday meals to include breakfast due to budget constraints, costing Rs 4,000 crores.

Responding to a question in the Lok Sabha, Women and Child Development Minister Annapurna Devi cited Poshan Tracker data for June 2024, detailing how around 8.57 crore children under six were measured. Among them, 35 percent were stunted, 17 percent underweight, and six percent wasted.