Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav Saturday launched the State Nutrition Mission and said its progress would be regularly monitored. After releasing the logo and a vision document of the mission, Yadav hoped that the mission would achieve its targets and make the state malnutrition free.
Present at the event were senior journalist Neerja Chowdhary, British economist Prof Lawrence Huddad, UNICEF’s India head, director general of Maharashtra Nutrition Mission Vandana Krishna and famous ghazal singer Peenaz Masani.
Malnutrition in India
Malnutrition is a condition which is caused due to lack of adequate intake of food or lack of quality food vital for a healthy body. In India, about 46 percent of children below three years of age and 47 percent are underweight. Many are severely malnourished. Madhya Pradesh has recorded the highest malnutrition (55 percent) and Kerala the lowest (27 percent). According to the UNCIEF, malnutrition is also influenced by lack of access to health services, quality care for the child and pregnant mother as well as good hygiene practices. Girls are more at risk of malnutrition than boys because of their lower social status.
Source: IANS
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