Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh, July 30-
The Punjab govt, under the leadership of CM Bhagwant Singh Mann, continues to prioritize the welfare of children and women alongside other sectors. To further this objective, Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur convened a meeting with District Program Officers and Child Development Project Officers on Tuesday at MGSIPA to discuss crucial departmental schemes and issues.
During the meeting, Baljit Kaur highlighted that the Punjab govt has achieved a significant reduction in malnutrition among children under Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann's tenure. Union Women and Child Development Minister Annapurna Devi confirmed in a written reply in the Lok Sabha on July 26 that stunting among children in Punjab has decreased from 22.08% in 2022 to 17.65% in 2024, wasting has reduced from 9.54% to 3.17%, and underweight children have declined from 12.58% to 5.57%.
Baljit Kaur stated that Punjab has been ranked first among neighboring states, including Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan, in reducing malnutrition among children. Official statistics show a rapid decline in the number of malnourished children in Punjab over the last two years. According to the 'POSHAN Tracker,' key indicators such as stunting, wasting and underweight have significantly improved among children aged 0-5 years in the state.