Madhya Pradesh's malnutrition crisis persists despite record health spending

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav marked the New Year with a visit to Khandwa, where he offered prayers at the Raj Rajeshwari Tripur Sundari Temple. Later, he inspected a maternal and child health centre run by the temple trust, engaging with women and staff while distributing nutritional supplies to pregnant and lactating mothers.

The state government has repeatedly highlighted progress in health and nutrition, claiming Madhya Pradesh has shed its long-standing 'BIMARU' status since 2023. Yet figures tell a different story. Over 85,000 children have required treatment at Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres (NRCs) since 2020, with admissions climbing steeply—from 11,566 in 2020-21 to 20,741 in 2024-25. More than 10 lakh children remain malnourished, including 1.36 lakh severely stunted, while 57% of women suffer from anemia symptoms.

Despite a Rs 4,895 crore allocation for malnutrition in 2025-26, improvements have been slow. Stunting in under-fives dropped only slightly, from 42% to around 38%, and wasting fell from 10% to 9%. These gains lag behind states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu but match Uttar Pradesh's pace. In tribal areas, schemes like Poshan Abhiyaan's Saksham Anganwadi (adding 80,000+ workers), millet-based nutrition via ICDS, and community growth monitoring in 500+ blocks have been rolled out since 2021. Iron and Vitamin A fortification now reaches 2.5 million children.

The state spends Rs 980 per child at NRCs and just Rs 8-12 per child at Anganwadis. Critics argue the gap between funding and outcomes persists, with malnutrition rates still at 7.79%.

The government's efforts include expanded schemes and higher budgets, but malnutrition remains widespread. With tribal-focused interventions and increased Anganwadi support, officials point to incremental progress. Yet the scale of the crisis—over 10 lakh malnourished children and high anemia rates—shows the challenge ahead.