Good nutrition is the key to a healthy and successful life, particularly for children. In India alone, millions of children are malnourished, and this impacts their growth, ability to learn, and overall health.
Without proper food, children are unable to concentrate at school, remain energetic, or resist illnesses. Adequate nutrition in childhood enhances brain development, builds immunity, and provides a foundation for a better future.
Getting every child in India the nutrition they require is not simply about feeding them—it’s about providing them with the opportunities to learn, develop, and flourish in life.
The Current State of Child Nutrition in India
Even with consistent improvement, child nutrition in India is still a cause of concern. As per the National Family Health Survey-5 (2019–21), nearly 35.5% of children under the age of five are stunted, 19% are wasted, and 32% are underweight.
UNICEF‑WHO‑World Bank projections for 2022 also validate these trends: stunting at nearly 31.7% and wasting at 18.7%, while India continues to bear almost half of the world’s burden of child wasting.
Malnutrition is particularly cutting in poor and tribal areas, where proportions usually exceed 35% for stunting, wasting, and underweight.
Children growing up in slums in urban areas have even poorer outcomes—for example, more than 50% of under‑five children in New Delhi slums are stunted.
These high percentages make it clear that increased nutrition interventions and improved reach in local areas are desperately needed.
The Impact of Poor Nutrition on Child Development
Poor diet in childhood has a lasting impact on the physical and mental growth of a child. Children who are malnourished tend to have stunted growth, weak bones, and a reduced resistance to diseases.
Their brains also fail to develop properly, making it hard to concentrate, recall things, and learn in school. This results in poor performance academically and reduces their ability to create a brighter future.
Emotional and social development is also impacted, as children who are poorly nourished can experience tiredness, irritability, and poor self-esteem.
Over a period of time, the harm done by poor diet becomes more difficult to undo. That’s why a child needs early and regular access to well-balanced meals in order to grow up healthy, secure, and competent.
Government and NGO Initiatives Tackling Malnutrition
India’s government has introduced large initiatives such as POSHAN Abhiyaan (National Nutrition Mission), with the purpose of lowering child stunting, undernutrition, anaemia, and low birth-weight by 2–3 % every year through integrated services, real-time monitoring of growth, and community mobilization such as Poshan Maah and Jan Andolan.
As part of Mission POSHAN 2.0, ongoing schemes such as ICDS, mid-day meals, and maternal health programs are synergized together.
Digital platforms—like the POSHAN Tracker mobile application—assists Anganwadi workers in gathering real-time data and tracking the growth of children.
Among NGOs, the Akshaya Patra Foundation is a key player by serving nutritious mid-day meals to more than 2.25 million children every day in government schools and anganwadis in several states.
Government and NGO efforts combined are increasing reach, quality of service, and tackling malnutrition through scale and innovation.
What We Can Do: Steps Toward a Better-Nourished Future
It takes a collective effort to provide a healthier future for children in India. Parents and caregivers must be made aware of the value of balanced diets and good child feeding practices.
Schools can implement nutrition education and provide healthy mid-day meals to children. Communities can help provide local nutrition campaigns, kitchen gardens, and health camps. Individuals can help by donating to NGOs that work on child nutrition or volunteering their time.
Policymakers should continue to invest in programs related to the health of children and improve access to nutritious foods in rural and urban poor areas.
By working together—government, NGOs, schools, and citizens—we can ensure that no child goes hungry, every child has a chance to grow up healthy and strong, and ready to succeed.
What are Ombre India Foundation’s Initiatives to Ensure Health and Nutrition for Children?
The Ombre India Foundation works with the aim of enhancing the health and nutrition of children at the grassroot level. The foundation conducts periodic health camps, offers nutritional supplements, and provides well-balanced meals to needy communities.
Healthy eating habits and hygiene are especially emphasized through educating parents. With tie-ups with schools and anganwadis, Ombre India provides regular health checkups and mid-day meals to children.
The foundation also encourages kitchen gardens to facilitate fresh, local access to food. These initiatives are designed to create healthier futures by addressing malnutrition and providing every child with the nutrition they need to grow, learn, and thrive.
