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20 January 2012

HUNGaMA Survey Report Released on Child Malnutrition; Prime Minister Stresses Importance of Results, Praises Research Effort

The final report of the HUNGaMA (Hunger & Malnutrition) Survey, HUNGaMA: Fighting Hunger & Malnutrition (page in PDF format), has been presented to the Prime Minister of India. The survey, coordinated by the Naandi Foundation (external site) with its partners, including Westat India, provides the current situation and plan focused action for reducing childhood malnutrition in India. It is also the first ever effort to make the voices of more than 74,000 mothers heard.

Conducted across 112 rural districts of India in 2011, the study provides reliable estimates of child nutrition covering nearly 20 per cent of Indian children. Having the largest sample size for a child nutrition survey since 2004, the HUNGaMA Survey captured nutrition status of 109,093 children under 5 years of age. Data collection took place between October 2010 and February 2011 in 3,360 villages across 9 states.

The HUNGaMA Survey shows that positive change for child nutrition in India is happening, including in the 100 Focus Districts. However rates of child malnutrition are still unacceptably high particularly in these Focus Districts where more than 40 per cent of children are underweight and almost 60 per cent are stunted.

In his speech on January 10, 2012, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh praised the research effort: "The first step in addressing the challenge of malnutrition lies in understanding it clearly. And it is for this reason that studies like the HUNGaMA survey are so important. I would like to compliment the Citizen's Alliance against Malnutrition, Nandi Foundation, Mahindra & Mahindra, and other partners and supporters of the Alliance for carrying out this very significant survey."

The final report noted particular appreciation for the research efforts of Tamara Daley, Ph.D., and the Westat India team "who went above and beyond the call of duty in ensuring the quality and integrity of the survey results."

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