White Paper - Millets
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Prevalence of Anemia in Jharkhand
According to the latest National Family Health Survey (2019-2021), 67.5% of children from the age of
six months to five years are anemic; 56.8% of pregnant women aged 15 to 49 years are anemic. If we
consider all women of the same age group 15-49 years, the anemia prevalence figures rise from 56.8% to
65.3%.
Table 1: Compendium of Fact Sheets, Key Indicators - India and 14 States/UTs (Phase II), NationalFamily Health
Survey (NFHS-5) 2019-21, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, September 2021 (the
Jharkhand survey covered around 22.8 thousand households in the state)
A close literature review of the government interventions indicates that the approach of the Government
of India has not been holistic and comprehensive; rather it has been populist and benefitted the
pharmaceutical industry. On the contrary, a literature review of the recommendations put forth by
community experts and civil society organizations has strongly advocated mixed interventions – to
increase iron intake through food-based approaches, namely dietary diversification, iron supplementation,
and improved health services and sanitation.
Hence, we take this opportunity to inform and recommendation policy recommendations to the concerned
Government of Jharkhand stakeholders:
●
India's vast diversity in food practices, spanning from east to west and north to south, presents a
unique opportunity for promoting long-term nutritional security. Research indicates that India’s
non-homogeneous food culture can catalyze sustainable dietary solutions.
●
In Jharkhand, indigenous crops, primarily local varieties of rice and millet, have been the staple
of the general population in the Chhota Nagpur region. Indigenous communities are also known
to use local wild plants, fruits, and tubers which help them augment their nutrition requirements.
●
Currently, Madua (Ragi or Finger Millet) is grown in Jharkhand in a very scattered manner.
According to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry’s Agricultural and Processed Food Products
Jharkhand - Anaemic Levels
NFHS-5 (2019-21)
NFHS- 4
(2015-16)
Urban
Rural
Total
Total
Children aged 6-59 months who are anaemic (<11.0g/dl) %
65.5
67.9
67.5
69.9
Non Pregnant women aged 15-49 yrs who are anaemic (<12.0 g/dl)
61.6
67.0
65.7
65.3
Pregnant women aged 15-49 yrs who are anaemic (<11.0 g/dl) %
45.5
59.2
56.8
62.6
All women aged 15-49 yrs who are anaemic %
61.1
66.7
65.3
65.2
All women aged 15-19 yrs who are anaemic %
63.2
66.5
65.8
65.0
Men aged 15-49 yrs who are anaemic (<13.0 g/dl) %
27.1
30.5
29.6
29.8
Men aged 15-19 yrs who are anaemic (<13.0 g/dl) %
39.0
39.9
39.7
35.3
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