New Delhi- Azad Samaj Party President and Nagina MP Chandra Shekhar Azad has expressed deep concern over the problem of increasing malnutrition among children of SC/ST and OBC communities. Raising this issue on x, the Bhim Army Chief questioned the Prime Minister whether it is social justice that children of communities that have been deprived for centuries are still deprived of nutrition and health? If governments are making schemes for children, then why are their benefits not reaching the most needy?

Azad wrote, "According to the latest report of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the data of NFHS-5, cases of malnutrition have been found more among SC, ST and OBC children than other castes - these are not statistics, but a mirror of our social priorities. This situation is not just a matter of statistics, but a warning of the crisis on the basic rights of life of children of deprived societies."

According to a recent report of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India has seen a decline in the rate of malnutrition among children in the last two decades, but cases of malnutrition have increased among children of socially vulnerable sections such as Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Other Backward Classes (OBC). According to a report published in Hindustan, the rate of malnutrition decreased by 10 percent in 2019-21 as compared to the year 2005-06. However, after 2015-16, there has been an increase in cases of low weight and anemia among children according to age and height.

Three separate reports of the National Family Health Survey show that the situation of malnutrition is serious among children of SC, ST and OBC categories. The rate of malnutrition among SC children was 60.6% in the year 2015-16, which increased to 70.3% in 2019-21. Similarly, this rate increased from 63.3% to 73.9% in ST children and from 58.6% to 66.1% in OBC children. A 10-12% increase in malnutrition was observed in all these three categories. The condition of malnutrition is more worrying among children of these categories as compared to other castes.

Stuntness was recorded at 39.2% in SC children in the year 2019-21, while it was 29.6% in other castes. The rate of malnutrition was 70.3% in SC, 73.9% in ST and 66.5% in other castes. Even in the case of underweight, children of SC (35.1%), ST (39.5%) and OBC (35.5%) categories were found to be more affected than other castes (26.3%). Even in the case of low weight for height, children from SC (19.7%), ST (23.2%) and OBC (18.9%) categories were found to be more malnourished than children from other castes (17.1%). This report shows that the problem of malnutrition is more serious among children from socially weaker sections than other sections.

Azad further wrote in his post," Our demand from the government is that special nutrition schemes should be implemented for SC-ST-OBC children, which keep in mind their geographical and social needs. Families deprived of PDS should be immediately connected and their children's nutrition should be monitored. There should be strict monitoring and punishment to stop caste-based discrimination in Anganwadi and Mid Day Meal. The future of children should not be seen only in government files, but in their plate and body health."

The MP said that he will raise this NHRC report in Parliament.