Haryana has registered high stunting percentage (53 per cent) of the Dalit children, high underweight percentage in Muslim children (51 per cent) and the high rate of anaemia amongst girls (76 per cent).
This was revealed in the two research documents released by NACDOR on the status of nutrition in the State of Haryana, especially in the context of Dalit communities on Tuesday. National Confederation of Dalit Organisations (NACDOR) is the apex body of Dalit Organisations in India.
Former Deputy Mayor of Chandigarh and senior Dalit leader Balraj Singh released two research documents including “Haryana Nutrition Report Card” and “Haryana Nutrition Status Report”.
As per the documents released, 20.7 percent of Haryana state’s population comprises of scheduled caste, the socially excluded communities. SC children are 13 percentage points more likely to be stunted vis a vis children of age 6 to 59 months not belonging to scheduled caste, scheduled tribe or other backward classes.
Two-thirds of Muslim children are shorter in height in Haryana and child in poor household is six times more likely to be shorter (stunted) than a relatively well off household in Haryana. The proportion of wasted children has increased four times from 1998-99 in Haryana. Nearly two-thirds children born in well off households are likely to be anaemic in the state, stated the “Haryana Nutrition Report Card.”
The documents stated, “In spite of various state and national flagship programmes related to the eradication of malnutrition in the state, there is not much improvement of health situation of marginalised communities. Moreover, the extent of discriminatory practices against the socially excluded & backward communities and lack of access to Government health & nutritional services and facilities also worsen the situation.”
In Haryana, the nutritional status of socially excluded children and women has undergone trivial change over a period of time. But they still remain under-nourished and anaemic.
Most of the research data of NACDOR is based on NFHS 3 (2005-06), NFHS 2(1998-99) and Haryana ICDS Status (QPR, 2013-14). ‘
The proportion of Scheduled caste and Other backward classes children age 12-23 months fully vaccinated are 66.9 percent and 50.8 per cent respectively which is lower than the children not belonging to these communities (71.2 per cent), stated the report.