Over 1.40 lakh Guj children malnourished: Govt to Assembly

The Gujarat government Tuesday informed the state Assembly that over 1.40 lakh children in the state were malnourished, adding it was taking mitigating steps.

Responding to a set of questions raised by Congress MLAs during Question Hour, Vibhavari Dave, Minister of State for Women and Child Development informed that out of the total 1,42,142 malnourished children in the state, 1,18,041 are 'underweight' while 24,101 are 'severely underweight'.

The presence of such malnourished children was highest in tribal dominated districts of Dahod (14,191) and Narmada (12,673), Dave said.

When a question seeking details about malnourished children, raised by Congress MLA Niranjan Patel from Anand district, was taken up for discussion during Question Hour, Dave tried to play down the issue saying the usage of the word 'ku-poshan' (Gujarati for malnutrition) was an attempt to "malign Gujarat's image".

When Patel, who represents Petlad seat, and other opposition MLAs objected saying she herself mentioned the word 'ku-poshan' in her written answer, Dave said she had mentioned only two categories- underweight and severely underweight.

"This word ku-poshan is as an attempt to malign Gujarat's image. We do not accept the word ku-poshan. In my written reply, I have said children are either underweight or severely underweight," Dave said.

The reply stated that 6,026 children are suffering from malnutrition in Anand district.

"Anand, also known as Charotar, is the most prosperous region of the state. This is the land of NRIs. Yet, as per data, over 6,000 children in Anand are malnourished. I urge the government to do something about it. The government should form a separate department to deal with this issue," Patel said.

He asked Dave to show some sense of responsibility as the BJP is "ruling Gujarat since last 25 years and people gave them all the 26 Lok Sabha seats in two consecutive elections".

In her response, Dave tried to convince the House that the situation is not that bad.

Citing figures of Anand taluka in Anand district, she said only 3.95 per cent children are malnourished while over 96 per cent are normal.

"Out of the total 37,039 children registered in Anand taluka, only 1,387 children, that is 3. 95 per cent, are malnourished. Remaining 96 per cent are normal," Dave told the House.

In her reply, Dave said the state government is committed to ending malnutrition.

She added that the government provides hot meals, take-home ration, double fortified salt, fortified oil, and fruits to Anganwadi children and their mothers to tackle the issue of malnutrition.

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani also urged the members of the House to join hands in fighting this problem.

"All the members of the House, both from BJP and Congress, expressed concern over the issue. We want to completely eradicate malnutrition from the state. I urge all the members to take this as a movement and help the government in this endeavour. We are indeed serious about this issue and taking steps to end malnutrition," Rupani told the House.