Malnutrition – Gujarat Reports Over 2.57 Lakh Children Affected Across Districts
Malnutrition – More than 2.57 lakh children in Gujarat are currently dealing with malnutrition, according to figures shared by the state government in the Legislative Assembly on Saturday. The disclosure has once again drawn attention to the continuing challenges related to child health and nutrition across several regions of the state.
The details were presented in a written response by the State Minister for Women and Child Welfare while replying to questions raised by legislators from the Indian National Congress. The data shows that a total of 2,57,269 children across 30 districts have been identified as malnourished.
Scale of underweight cases across the state
Among the affected children, the majority fall into the underweight category. The government informed the Assembly that 2,11,635 children are classified as underweight. In addition, 45,634 children have been categorized as severely underweight, indicating a more serious nutritional deficiency that requires urgent attention.
Officials indicated that these figures were compiled through the state’s monitoring systems that track the health and nutritional status of children in different districts. The data provides a snapshot of the scale of the issue and highlights areas where targeted intervention may be required.
Tribal districts record high numbers
District-wise figures reveal that several tribal-dominated regions are reporting some of the highest numbers of malnourished children. Panchmahal district recorded the largest total, with 20,762 children identified as malnourished. Of these, 16,836 are underweight while 3,926 fall into the severely underweight category.
Banaskantha reported the second-highest number with 19,391 affected children. Kheda followed closely with 18,590 cases. Other districts showing significant figures include Sabarkantha with 16,588 cases, Dahod with 16,388, and Chhota Udepur with 16,322 malnourished children.
These districts, many of which have large tribal populations and rural settlements, have historically faced difficulties related to nutrition, healthcare access, and economic conditions.
Severely underweight cases highest in Chhota Udepur
While Panchmahal recorded the highest overall number of malnourished children, Chhota Udepur reported the largest number of severely underweight cases. According to the government’s data, the district has 4,048 children in the severe category.
Panchmahal follows with 3,926 severely underweight children. Kheda recorded 3,471 such cases, while Banaskantha reported 3,268. These figures highlight the seriousness of nutritional deficiencies in certain areas and underline the need for consistent monitoring and nutrition support programs.
Urban districts also affected
The data presented in the Assembly also indicates that the problem is not confined to rural or tribal districts. Several urban or industrial regions have also reported considerable numbers of malnourished children.
Vadodara recorded 12,766 affected children, making it one of the districts with higher figures. Bhavnagar reported 11,648 cases, while Kutch had 11,546 and Bharuch recorded 11,453 malnourished children.
Major cities also reflected notable numbers. Ahmedabad reported 6,411 malnourished children, including 999 categorized as severely underweight. Gandhinagar recorded 6,467 cases. Other districts such as Anand and Mehsana also reported significant figures with 6,352 and 5,635 cases respectively.
Districts with comparatively lower figures
Some districts reported relatively lower numbers compared with others in the state. Porbandar recorded the lowest figure with 666 malnourished children.
Botad reported 2,583 cases, while Dang recorded 3,220. Although these numbers are lower than those seen in several other districts, they still indicate that nutritional challenges remain present across different regions.
Recent increases in some districts
The government’s data also showed that some districts have witnessed a rise in malnutrition cases. Kheda recorded the largest increase, with 689 additional cases reported during the monitoring period.
Chhota Udepur saw an increase of 275 cases, while Amreli reported 222 additional cases. Morbi also recorded a smaller rise of 50 cases.
The figures were shared during ongoing discussions in the Assembly concerning child welfare initiatives and nutrition-related programs. Legislators highlighted the importance of continued monitoring, effective nutrition schemes, and coordinated healthcare efforts to address the issue.