Gujarat Assembly Debate Erupts Over Child Malnutrition Statistics
The Gujarat legislative assembly became the stage for a contentious political confrontation on Thursday, with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Congress engaging in a sharp exchange over the persistent issue of child malnutrition in the state. The debate unfolded during discussions on budgetary demands for the Women and Child Development (WCD) department.
Congress Alleges Decades of Neglect
Congress MLA Jignesh Mevani launched a pointed critique, highlighting that despite the BJP's uninterrupted governance in Gujarat for nearly three decades, malnutrition among children remains alarmingly high. "Forty out of every 100 children in Gujarat are malnourished," Mevani asserted during his speech. He emphasized that tribal communities are disproportionately affected, constituting a significant portion of these vulnerable children.
Mevani's remarks were part of a cut motion, a parliamentary procedure used to scrutinize government expenditures. His intervention underscored the opposition's concern that budgetary allocations might not be effectively addressing this critical public health challenge.
BJP Counters with Updated Data and Technology
State Women and Child Development Minister Manisha Vakil swiftly rebutted the Congress allegations, accusing the opposition of relying on outdated information. "The figures quoted by the Congress are from the 2019 National Family Health Survey (NFHS)," Vakil stated. She presented contrasting data, claiming that as of January 2026, the malnutrition rate in Gujarat has been substantially reduced to only 11.4% of children.
Minister Vakil attributed this improvement to the state government's adoption of advanced technological solutions. "We are now utilizing tools like the Poshan tracker for real-time monitoring of over 53,000 anganwadis across Gujarat," she explained. The minister expressed the administration's firm commitment to eradicating malnutrition entirely from the state.
Heated Exchanges and Personal Remarks
The debate took a personal turn when Minister Vakil suggested that "it is the Congress that is suffering from malnutrition due to its reduced strength in the assembly." This comment, referring to the Congress party's current tally of only 12 MLAs in the 182-member house, provoked immediate objections from opposition benches.
Congress MLA Shailesh Parmar raised a point of order, demanding that the government treat opposition concerns with greater seriousness. "An official report identifies four districts in Gujarat among the ten most malnourished districts in the entire country," Parmar countered, challenging the minister's optimistic assessment.
Historical Allegations and Future Resolve
In her continued defense of the WCD department's budgetary demands, Minister Vakil contrasted current transparency measures with past practices. She alleged that during previous Congress administrations, anganwadi operations lacked accountability. "Termites consumed record books, and there was no proper documentation for ration distribution meant for anganwadis," Vakil claimed, painting a picture of systemic neglect.
The minister reiterated the state government's determination to make Gujarat malnutrition-free, emphasizing that the Poshan tracker enables continuous oversight and data-driven interventions. The assembly session concluded with both sides maintaining their positions, reflecting the deep political divisions over how to measure and address child welfare in one of India's most economically developed states.
