Himachal Pradesh has recorded a significant improvement in child nutrition indicators, according to the latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6). The survey shows a substantial decline in key malnutrition metrics among children under five years of age, including stunting, wasting, and underweight prevalence.
Key Findings from NFHS-6
As per the NFHS-6 findings, 20 per cent of children under five years are stunted, 10.4 per cent are wasted, and 16.8 per cent are underweight. While these figures still indicate a public health challenge, the improvement becomes clear when compared with the findings of NFHS-5.
The previous survey reported that 30.8 per cent of children in the state were stunted, 17.4 per cent were wasted, and 25.5 per cent were underweight. The latest figures show a reduction of nearly 7 to 10 percentage points across all three indicators, marking a notable improvement in child health outcomes over the past few years.
Definitions and Context
In NFHS terminology, a child is considered stunted when too short for age, wasted when too thin for height, and underweight when body weight is lower than the standard for age. Pankaj Lalit, Director of the Department of Women and Child Development, described the improvement as encouraging. He stated that although the state still has a long way to go, Himachal's performance is now better than many northern states and also exceeds the national average on several indicators.
Programmes Driving the Improvement
Officials attribute the progress largely to targeted nutrition interventions and awareness campaigns. The Supplementary Nutrition Programme and the state government's Baal Poshahaar Yojana have played a crucial role in addressing the nutritional needs of children aged six to 72 months, pregnant women, lactating mothers, and severely malnourished children through Anganwadi centres.
The department has also intensified awareness initiatives such as Poshan Pakhwada and campaigns focusing on nutrition, sanitation, breastfeeding, anaemia prevention, and diarrhoea management. Improved immunisation coverage and better protection against childhood infections have further contributed to the decline in malnutrition levels, strengthening the health and well-being of young children across the state.
Statistical Comparison
Himachal Pradesh has achieved a remarkable improvement in child nutrition indicators. The proportion of stunted children has declined from 30.8% to 20%, wasting from 17.4% to 10.4%, and underweight children from 25.5% to 16.8% compared to NFHS-5. The gains are being attributed to the Supplementary Nutrition Programme, Baal Poshahaar Yojana, enhanced Anganwadi services, and sustained awareness campaigns on nutrition and health.
Better immunisation coverage and efforts to prevent infections such as diarrhoea have also played a vital role. While challenges remain, the state's progress signals a positive shift in the fight against child malnutrition.
