ABSTRACT
India has been embarrassed by high levels of stunting, wasting and underweight children. Science is certain that persistence of under-nutrition creates irreversible changes in the learning abilities of many infants, besides susceptibility to disease as they grow. The challenge of under-nutrition is not rocket science. The recently released NFHS-5 brings out the unfinished agenda and the slow rate of decline in under-nutrition. Technology use was rightly emphasized in Poshan-I. A large number of phones were procured to make a vibrant and responsive feedback loop. Communities need attractive and periodic activities with a role in the monitoring of their children’s progress. A lot of work is happening to secure clean and safe piped drinking water. Under-nutrition also calls for an appreciation of the need for mature age at marriage and at first delivery as under-age mothers give birth to a larger number of underweight infants. Social movements for women’s rights and care during adolescence and during pregnancy need a strong thrust.
