Mysuru: The number of underweight children in Mysuru district dropped to 142 this year from 675 three years ago. The highest number of underweight children was reported from tribal hamlets of forest fringe villages.Children between six months and six years old suffering from low weight stemming from poor nutrition intake and affected by frequent childhood infections are considered underweight and low-weight children.According to year-wise reports, Mysuru district registered 692 underweight children in 2023-24. The number declined to 275 in 2024-25 and further to 142 in 2025-26.Taluk-wise reports over the last three years showed the number of underweight children declining to 19 from 153 in Hunsur taluk, to 23 from 115 in Mysuru taluk and city, to 13 from 89 in Nanjangud taluk, and to 20 from 96 in T Narasipura taluk. In HD Kote taluk, the number declined to 10 from 64.Experts attributed the decline to improved maternal care, stronger health infrastructure, greater awareness of breastfeeding for the first six months, distribution of nutrition kits including milk powder, eggs, nutrient-rich chakki and laddu, and the provision of vitamin A supplements and iron and zinc tablets. They said protection of children from childhood diseases, preventive measures against sudden weight loss, access to safe drinking water, and improved antenatal care and maternal and child nutrition care programmes also contributed to the reduction.The effective implementation of govt schemes such as Poshan Abhiyan, the midday meals scheme, Integrated Child Development Schemes and other programmes also contributed significantly to reducing stunting and underweight among children.Currently, Mysuru city has 23 underweight children, Nanjangud 23, T Narasipura 20, Hunsur 19, KR Nagar 13, HD Kote 10, Mysuru rural 10 and Periyapatna 10.Department of women and child welfare, entrusted with the responsibility of caring for underweight children, has currently rehabilitated seven children at the Nutritional Rehabilitation Centre at Cheluvamba Centre. The department has reserved 20 beds for such children at Cheluvamba Centre and five beds at the district hospital.Speaking to TOI, deputy director of women and children welfare Nagaraju said the department receives about Rs 76 crore every year from the Union govt for nutrition and maternal care to ensure nutritious food supplements for children and pregnant mothers of anganwadi children throughout the year, including special fund support for nutrition care of underweight children under various state and Union govt schemes.“The effective implementation of govt schemes, nutrition care, maternal awareness and access to safe drinking water, among other factors, contributed to the decline in underweight children in the district,” he said.“As underweight is associated with an underdeveloped brain and long-lasting harmful effects among children, including diminished mental ability, learning capacity, poor school performance in childhood, and increased nutrition-related chronic disease, govt must give special attention to protect and rehabilitate such children,” said Sudha Doreswamy, retired govt medical officer, to TOI.Underweight children in Mysuru district YearNo of children2023-246922024-252752025-26142 Drop from 675 three years ago to 142 this yearTaluk-wise decline (last 3 years)Taluk2023-242025-26Hunsur15319Mysuru taluk & city11523Nanjangud8913T Narasipura9620HD Kote6410Current underweight children tallyMysuru city: 23Nanjangud: 23 T Narasipura: 20 Hunsur: 19 K R Nagar: 13 H D Kote: 10 Mysuru rural: 10 Periyapatna: 10Source: Women and child welfare department
