Move to pre-emptive care model where the focus and thrust will be on child health and prevention

India’s malnutrition statistics present an alarming picture, where more than 35% children are underweight and 70% of children between the age group of six months to three years suffer from anaemia.

Budgetary allocation for Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) has declined from Rs 18,200 crore in 2014-15 to Rs 16,800 crore in 2017-18. The number of Special Newborn Care Units have seen marginal improvement, from 525 in 2013-14 to 602 in Dec, 2015.

Mission Indradhanush, a programme for universal immunisation of children has resulted in increase of full immunisation coverage by about 5-7%. Overall, less budgetary allocation has impacted most of the child health programmes.