MALNUTRITION: A MASQUERADING SOCIAL ILLNESS

Indradeo Kisku*, Mithilesh Kumar, Manisha Kujur, Shalini Sunderam, Dewesh Kumar,
Kumari Asha Kiran

ABSTRACT

SAAMAR (Strategic Action for Alleviation of Malnutrition and Anaemia Reduction) was launched by the Government of Jharkhand to tackle malnutrition in the state. A two-year-old boy identified as MAM and improved further to normal nutrition but the fear of again falling below less than -2 SD weight for height(W/H) still persists. Now the reason of his malnutrition intertwined in social causes which is beyond comprehension of the policy makers. He is a product of a problem family where both of his parents have abandoned their child at no one’s mercy. His grandparents although came to take care of the child but they are physically and financially not strong to meet his daily needs. There is no policy which addresses the requirements of such abandoned children. It’s a masquerading situation where social problem merges with nutritional menace.

Keywords: Malnutrition, SAAMAR, Public Distribution System.