Worry Over Inability to Reduce Anaemia Among Girls and Women In India

NITI Aayog has expressed concern over the country’s inability to reduce anaemia particularly among girls and women in the age group of 15 to 49. Sixty percent of them are affected by the deficiency of iron, according to Alok Kumar, Adviser NITI Aayog and Vedeika Shekhar, Young Professional, NITI Aayog.

Poverty, lack of nutrition, gender disparity are the major reasons. Intake of iron from food is not sufficient-the daily consumption of iron rich dark green leafy vegetables has fallen in the last decade from 64% of the population to 48%.

Supply of fortified rice through Public Distribution Systems was launched by the Department of Food and Public Distribution, facilitated by the NITI Aayog.The scheme requires Rs 2400 cr for all India roll-out while the present allocation is Rs 147 cr. Physical and cognitive losses due to Iron Deficiency Anaemia (IDA) costs the developing countries upto 4.5% loss in GDP per annum, which is 1.18% of the GDP in India.

The Anaemia Mukt Bharat programme focusses on reducing anaemia among st pregnant women from 50% in 2016 to 32% in 2022.

Courtesy: https://niti.gov.in