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‘Krishi Karman’ winner MP has one of the worst hunger situations

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Special Correspondent

NewsBits.in

Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh has second worst malnutrition situation in country and witnessed several deaths of malnourished children recently despite winning Krishi Karman award for highest agriculture production since past few years.

The fruits of development are not reaching the deprived and they are facing situation of hunger and starvation. Social security schemes are not working on the ground, making situation worse.

India has slipped to 97th position among 118 countries in Global Hunger Index and MP’s situation is one of the most serious in the country.

These were the major points highlighted by speakers at a discussion session on ‘food and nutrition security in MP’ organized on occasion of World Food Day in Bhopal by NGOs Welthungerhilfe, India, Samarthan, Mahatma Gandhi Seva Ashram, Darshana and Ekjut.

On this occasion, the Global Hunger Index 2016 was also launched at state level. Delivering presidential address, secretary of Gandhi Seva Ashram Ran Singh Parmar said that dalits and tribal face the worst malnutrition situation in MP. The state has failed to implement recommendations and specific social security schemes to improve the situation.

India Programme head of Welthungerhilfe, Shubhankar Chatterjee spoke about the national scenario on malnutrition, highlighting that 15.2% people are malnourished. Executive director of Samarthan, Yogesh Kumar said that strengthening local self government bodies could be helpful in mitigating the situation.

Nutrition expert Amita Singh said promoting locally available nutritious food could be helpful. Senior journalists Jayant Verma and Rakesh Diwan also spoke, emphasizing need of change in constitutional provisions and at policy level.

The worrying statistics in MP according to National Family Health Survey-4 were also highlighted. As many as 42.8% children in state are underweight, 25.8% suffer from wasting and 42% suffer from stunting, indicating chronic malnutrition conditions.

The infant mortality rate is 51/1000 live births – highest in country, 68.5% children below 5 years and 52.5% women are anaemic, indicating the situation of hunger and starvation.