New Delhi: At least 63 districts across 13 Indian states and one Union Territory, including 34 in Uttar Pradesh alone, have reported that more than 50 per cent of children enrolled in anganwadis are stunted, according to an analysis of various documents submitted in Parliament.

Stunting, a result of chronic undernutrition, reflects prolonged deficiencies in a child’s diet and overall health environment. The data, drawn from the Ministry of Women and Child Development's Poshan Tracker for June 2025, indicates alarmingly high stunting levels in some regions.

Among the worst-affected districts are:

  • Nandurbar, Maharashtra: 68.12%
  • West Singhbhum, Jharkhand: 66.27%
  • Chitrakoot, Uttar Pradesh: 59.48%
  • Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh: 58.20%
  • Bongaigaon, Assam: 54.76%

Uttar Pradesh leads with 34 districts reporting stunting levels above 50 per cent. Other heavily affected states include Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, and Assam.

In total, 199 districts across India have reported stunting levels between 30 and 40 per cent.

The WCD Ministry informed Parliament that among 8.19 crore children aged 0–6 years measured at anganwadis, 35.91 per cent were stunted and 16.5 per cent were underweight. Among children under five years of age, the prevalence of stunting was even higher at 37.07 per cent.

In terms of underweight prevalence, Nandurbar in Maharashtra again topped the list at 48.26 per cent, followed by:

  • Dhar, Madhya Pradesh: 42%
  • Khargone, Madhya Pradesh: 36.19%
  • Barwani, Madhya Pradesh: 36.04%
  • Dang, Gujarat: 37.20%
  • Dungarpur, Rajasthan: 35.04%
  • Sukma, Chhattisgarh: 34.76%

Wasting, an indicator of acute malnutrition, was most prevalent in:

  • Dhar, Madhya Pradesh: 17.15%
  • Bijapur, Chhattisgarh: 15.20%
  • Mon, Nagaland: 15.10%

Several other districts recorded stunting levels above 50 per cent, including:

  • Assam: Cachar (54.11%), Darrang (51.65%), South Salmara-Mankachar (52.67%)
  • Arunachal Pradesh: Tirap (52.74%), Upper Subansiri (52.10%)
  • Karnataka: Raichur (52.76%), Bagalkot (51.61%)
  • Rajasthan: Salumbar (52.95%)
  • Gujarat: Narmada (50.71%)
  • Union Territories: Mahe, Puducherry (57.38%)

Minister of State for Women and Child Development Savitri Thakur emphasised in a written Lok Sabha response that malnutrition cannot be addressed by food provision alone.

“Nutrition is not just about food — it involves sanitation, safe drinking water, and education,” she stated, advocating for a multi-sectoral and convergent approach.

She added that the government is implementing Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, umbrella schemes integrating anganwadi services, the Poshan Abhiyaan, and adolescent nutrition initiatives.

The schemes focus on community-based management of acute malnutrition (CMAM), the use of fortified rice, and the inclusion of millets in meals to improve nutritional outcomes.
(With PTI inputs)