This article in The Wire (India) examines India’s sixth National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6) data showing that while child stunting has declined, undernutrition remains a significant challenge, with high rates of wasting and underweight children persisting across the country.
The article quotes IFPRI’s Director for Strategy and Partnerships Purnima Menon who notes that “the determinants of child nutrition are multiple and interconnected,” and that “improvements in maternal health, healthcare access and child feeding practices can all contribute to better nutrition outcomes.”
Menon further underscores the critical role of maternal health and women’s well-being, stating that “a lot of stunting and anthropometric failures in South Asia come because children are born too small” and that “what’s happening during pregnancy, women’s education and the conditions of women’s lives matter enormously for child growth.”
Menon also adds: “The challenge is not just about food. Children under two cannot feed themselves. They need to be fed, and complementary feeding requires time, patience and care from caregivers.”