India’s Stunting Crisis Despite POSHAN Abhiyaan

Why in the News?

1. POSHAN Abhiyaan, launched in 2018, aimed to reduce stunting among children under five by 2 percentage points annually.
2. As per Poshan Tracker data (June 2025), stunting remains at 37%, barely improving from 4% in 2016, indicating failure to meet the target of 25% by 2022 (Mission 25 by 2022).
3. Persistent stunting highlights systemic issues in maternal and child health, nutrition, sanitation, and social practices.

Key Highlights

1. Poshan Abhiyaan
   1. Nature of Initiative: A multi-ministerial mission focused on improving nutrition and health.
   2. Primary Objectives:
      1. Reduce malnutrition and stunting among children.
      2. Address anaemia in children and women.

• Enhance overall health outcomes across the country.

1. Implementing Body: Led by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
2. Collaborative Approach: Works in partnership with:
   1. Various central ministries.
   2. State governments.

• Local stakeholders and organizations.

2. POSHAN Abhiyaan Targets vs. Reality
   2022. Target: Reduce stunting by 2% annually and reach 25% by 2022.
   2023. Reality: After seven years, only 1% decline from 2016 levels (38.4% → 37%).
   2024. Indicates deep-rooted structural and social barriers beyond program implementation.
3. Underlying Causes of Stunting
   1. Maternal Health & Adolescent Pregnancy:
      1. Nearly half of stunted children are born small.
      2. Teen pregnancies (7% of women aged 15–19) lead to low birth weight.
   2. Anaemia:
      1. 57% women (15–49) and 67% children under five are anaemic.
   3. Poor Diet Quality:
      1. Carbohydrate-heavy meals dominate; very low protein and micronutrient intake.
      2. Only 11% of children under 2 years get a minimum acceptable diet.
   4. Breastfeeding and Early Child Care
      1. Exclusive breastfeeding under 6 months: 64% only.
      2. Caesarean births (22% in 2021, up from 9% in 2005-06) disrupt early breastfeeding.
      3. Social inequalities affect breastfeeding—informal sector mothers return to work early.
   5. Sanitation and Water Access
      1. 19% households practice open defecation → contamination of drinking water.
      2. Leads to infections, poor gut health, and malnutrition.
      3. Creates a vicious cycle: malnutrition → frequent illness → less food absorption → deeper malnutrition.
   6. Education and Intergenerational Impact
      1. Maternal Education:
         1. 46% stunting among children of uneducated mothers vs 26% for educated mothers (12+ years).
      2. Stunting leads to long-term effects:
         1. Poor cognitive skills, low employability, perpetuation of poverty cycle.

Implications

1. Health and Nutrition
   1. Persistent high stunting rates mean widespread chronic malnutrition.
   2. Increased risk of childhood illness, impaired physical growth, and reduced immunity.
2. Economic Impact
   1. Stunting reduces productivity and earnings potential, impacting GDP growth.
   2. Intergenerational poverty: malnourished children grow into less productive adults.
3. Social Inequality
   1. Education gap, rural-urban divide, and gender disparities worsen nutritional outcomes.
   2. Informal sector mothers lack maternity benefits, impacting infant care.
4. Public Policy Effectiveness
   1. Failure to achieve Mission 25 reveals gaps in POSHAN Abhiyaan implementation.
   2. Highlights inadequacy of food-based schemes without addressing sanitation, education, and maternal health.
5. Global Standing
   1. Poor progress affects India’s ranking on Global Hunger Index and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) targets.
   2. Reflects systemic challenges in achieving nutrition-related commitments.

Challenges and Way Forward

Conclusion

India’s failure to significantly reduce stunting despite seven years of POSHAN Abhiyaan shows that malnutrition is not just a food problem but a multi-dimensional challenge linked to health, education, sanitation, and gender issues. Breaking the intergenerational cycle of stunting requires a holistic approach that combines nutrition interventions with maternal health, safe water, social protection, and women’s empowerment.