Odisha, considered as one of the backward States in India, has made significant progress in reducing the child under-nutrition, according to a study by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).

The study sheds light on nutrition success stories on the ground in countries like Bangladesh, Brazil, Nepal, Peru, Thailand, Vietnam and Ethiopia and the State of Odisha in India.

Odisha has emerged as “nutrition champion” among the country’s 28 States.

As per the findings of the Washington-based institute, stunting reduced from 46.5 per cent of children below five years in 2005-06 to 35.3 per cent in 2015-16 in Odisha. Similarly, the proportion of underweight children decreased from 42.3 per cent kids below five years to 35.8 per cent, and the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) reached 34 per cent more people in 2017 as compared to those in 2014.

It’s noteworthy that Odisha has performed better than developed States such as Gujarat in delivering ICDS.

From September 1, the Union Government is all set to launch “Poshan Abhiyan”, a scheme which aims to improve nutrition among children, lactating mothers and pregnant women on the occasion of National Nutrition Week and make India malnutrition-free by 2022.

Besides, in Odisha, the child and maternal health improved faster in compared to less developed States.

In Odisha, coverage of antenatal care went up from 48.3 per cent of beneficiaries in 2005 to 64 per cent in 2015 compared to Bihar, where it increased from 16.9 per cent in 2005-06 to 18.7 per cent in 2014-15. In Maharashtra, this proportion increased from 62.1 per cent to 67.6 per cent, the study found.

Similarly in Odisha, institutional births increased from 35.6 per cent of all births to 85.3 per cent in 10 years to 2015. In Bihar, it rose up from 19.9 per cent in 2005 to 63.8 per cent in 2015.