Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government disclosed a concerning statistic on Saturday, revealing that 11,710 children across the state are suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM). Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, who oversees the women and child development department, shared this information in response to a query from BJP MLA Laxman Bag during the State Legislative Assembly session.
According to the government’s data, tribal-dominated districts bear the brunt of this alarming issue. Mayurbhanj district reported the highest number of malnourished children, with 1,460 cases. This was followed closely by Keonjhar, the home district of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, where 1,269 children were found to be suffering from SAM.
Other severely affected districts include Nabarangpur (760) Rayagada (645), Kalahandi (636), Malkangiri (570) Ganjam (558), Balasore (536).
Jagatsinghpur district, notably, reported the lowest number of SAM cases, with only 50 children affected.
Acknowledging the seriousness of the issue, DCM Parida outlined several government-led schemes aimed at combating child malnutrition. These programs are implemented through Anganwadi centers under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) framework. Key initiatives include:
Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP): Provides essential nutritional supplements to children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers.
Mukhymantri Samproona Pushti Yojana (MSPY): A flagship nutrition program focused on improving the health of children, adolescent girls, and women.
Pada Prusti Karyakram (PPK): A special outreach program aimed at providing health and nutrition support in remote and tribal-dominated areas.
Mamata Diwas-VHND (Village Health and Nutrition Day): A monthly event organised at Anganwadi centers to provide immunization, health check-ups, and nutrition counseling.
According to experts, the persistent issue of malnutrition in Odisha, particularly in tribal regions, stems from a combination of socio-economic challenges like poverty and food insecurity, limited healthcare access, lack of awareness and cultural practices.
“Many families in tribal belts rely on subsistence farming, with limited access to nutritious food due to seasonal farming challenges and low purchasing power. Remote and difficult-to-reach areas face shortages of healthcare professionals and nutrition experts, delaying timely intervention for at-risk children. Malnutrition is often aggravated by inadequate knowledge about balanced diets, child care, and hygiene among rural communities,” said Dillip Kumar Subuddhi, a development activist.
