Gandhinagar, March 14 (NationPress) The percentage of underweight children in Gujarat has seen a notable decrease of 9.1 percentage points within one year, dropping from 20.5 percent in January 2025 to 11.4 percent in January 2026, as reported by the Centre’s 'Poshan Tracker' during a presentation in the State Assembly on Saturday.

While discussing the malnutrition situation in the state, Women and Child Development Minister Dr. Manisha Vakil emphasized that this decline is indicative of the state government's holistic approach and its real-time monitoring of nutrition metrics.

“As per the data from the Central Government, the rate of underweight children in the state transitioned from 20.5 percent in January 2025 to 11.4 percent in January 2026. This marks a significant reduction of 9.1 percent within just a year,” she conveyed to the Assembly, noting that this progress highlights Gujarat’s rapid advancements compared to the earlier statistics captured in the National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5).

During the Assembly discussion regarding the Women and Child Development Department, malnutrition and the widow assistance scheme were hot topics.

Dr. Vakil pointed out that malnutrition should not solely be regarded as a health issue but also as a social challenge that necessitates collaborative efforts.

“The nutrition provided through the Integrated Child Development Scheme meets one-third of a child's daily nutritional needs. With the engagement of families and the community, we can work together to ensure a well-nourished state,” she articulated.

The minister also provided district-level insights, indicating that the Aravalli district has reported a decrease in the number of malnourished children as of January 2026.

Within this district, Modasa taluka demonstrated the most significant reduction, achieving a 10.9 percent drop, while Bayad followed with a 9.5 percent reduction.

In the adjacent Sabarkantha district, the average rate of malnutrition has decreased by 5.7 percent over the previous year.

The most remarkable progress in this district was noted in Khedbrahma taluka, where malnutrition rates fell by 12.5 percent.

Dr. Vakil stated that the state government is committed to realizing the vision of a malnutrition-free Gujarat through various nutrition assistance programs.

“Under these initiatives, ‘Balshakti’ packets are allocated to children aged six months to three years, ‘Matrushakti’ packets are designated for pregnant and lactating mothers, and ‘Purnashakti’ packets are intended for adolescent girls,” she elaborated.

She also added that through the 'Poshan Sudha Yojana', pregnant and lactating mothers in 14 tribal districts receive one full hot meal at anganwadi centers.