Nagpur: Maharashtra recorded 1,82,443 malnourished children across the state, including 30,800 with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) and 1,51,643 with Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM), as per the Poshan Tracker data for February 2025.

The worrying numbers were shared in a written reply by women and child development minister Aditi Tatkare in the state assembly, where she acknowledged that urban areas are seeing a steeper rise in malnutrition compared to rural regions.Out of 48,14,815 children registered, 47,82,859 had their height and weight measured during the survey cycle, while 31,956 children could not be assessed due to absence or migration, the minister noted.

The Mumbai suburban region alone accounted for 2,887 SAM and 13,457 MAM children out of 2,87,113 registered. Of these, 3,976 children were not measured."The state is taking focused steps to bring down malnutrition through a multi-tiered strategy. We've already filled 2,17,736 out of 2,21,338 sanctioned posts for Anganwadi sevikas and assistants, and recruitment is underway for the remaining. Hiring for child development officers and supervisors is also in progress," Tatkare stated.

To tackle the crisis, the state is running several targeted schemes. Under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), hot cooked meals are provided daily to children aged 3 to 6 years, while take-home rations are given to pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children aged 6 months to 3 years. In tribal project areas, the Bharat Ratna Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Amrit Aahar Yojana provides a daily square meal to pregnant and lactating mothers.

Additionally, eggs or bananas are distributed four days a week to children, based on dietary preferences.Special village and urban child development centres have been established to care for SAM children, where they receive three servings daily of energy-dense nutritious food and medical treatment when required.Tatkare further informed the House that programmes under the national Poshan Abhiyaan — including Individualised Learning Approaches (ILA), Community-Based Events (CBE), ICT-based real-time monitoring, and Jan Andolan (mass awareness) — are being implemented rigorously to improve nutritional outcomes.# Malnutrition Status in Maharashtra (Feb 2025)# Statewide Assessment:Total registered children: 48,14,815Children measured for height & weight: 47,82,859Children not measured: 31,956Malnutrition Cases (Statewide):Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM): 30,800Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM): 1,51,643# Staffing & Infrastructure:Sanctioned Anganwadi posts: 2,21,338Filled: 2,17,736Recruitment ongoing for remaining postsChild development officers & supervisors hiring in progress# Key Govt Interventions:ICDS: Hot meals for 3–6 years; take-home rations for pregnant/lactating mothers and 6m–3y childrenAmrit Aahar Yojana: One square meal daily for tribal pregnant and lactating womenSupplementary nutrition: Eggs/bananas 4 days/week for 6m–6y childrenSAM Care Centres: Energy-dense food served thrice daily + medical support# Poshan Abhiyaan:Individualised Learning Approaches (ILA)Community-Based Events (CBE)Real-time monitoring (ICT-RTM)Jan Andolan for public awareness