Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav offered prayers at the Raj Rajeshwari Tripur Sundari Temple on the banks of the Narmada on New Year’s Day and later inspected a maternal and child health centre run by the temple trust. Accompanied by his wife, Seema Yadav, the chief minister spoke with beneficiaries and staff and distributed nutritional food material to pregnant and lactating women.
The visit, announced on the chief minister’s office X account, combined a public observance with a focus on frontline health delivery. Officials said the centre provides maternal and child health services to nearby communities and functions under the temple trust’s welfare activities.
Madhya Pradesh malnutrition scale and spending
Despite such outreach, malnutrition remains a persistent problem in the state. Official figures tabled in the state assembly show that between 2020 and June 2025 some 85,330 children were admitted to Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres (NRCs) in tribal blocks. Annual admissions have climbed from 11,566 in 2020–21 to 20,741 in 2024–25, signalling a worrying upward trend.
State government data indicates more than 10 lakh children in Madhya Pradesh are malnourished, including roughly 1.36 lakh who are severely stunted. The state’s rate for severe and moderate malnutrition among children under five was 7.79 per cent in April 2025, above the national rate of 5.4 per cent reported for the same period.
Anaemia compounds the crisis. Government records show that 57 per cent of women in Madhya Pradesh are anaemic, a condition that undermines maternal health and heightens the risk of poor birth outcomes and early childhood undernutrition.
On finances, the state reports spending Rs 980 per child at NRCs. Support through Anganwadis is modest by comparison; severely malnourished children are allocated Rs 12 per day while others receive Rs 8. For 2025–26 the state budgeted Rs 4,895 crore for related programmes and services, yet officials and observers acknowledge that allocations have not fully translated into improved indicators on the ground.
During his visit the chief minister engaged directly with the centre’s staff, seeking details on services and distribution mechanisms. He extended best wishes to beneficiaries and underscored the government’s continued support for nutrition initiatives, according to his office.
Political context remains relevant. The Bharatiya Janata Party-led state government has said Madhya Pradesh shed the ‘BIMARU’ label in 2023, a claim met with scepticism by critics who point to persistent health and nutrition deficits in some regions.
Public health experts stress that tackling malnutrition requires sustained investment in maternal health, food security, sanitation, and education, alongside stronger monitoring and community outreach. The chief minister’s visit highlights the human face of the problem, but the statistics underline the scale of work still required to improve outcomes for the state’s children.
Key Takeaways:
- India’s Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav visited the Raj Rajeshwari Tripur Sundari Temple and a temple-run maternal and child health centre on New Year.
- Madhya Pradesh malnutrition remains severe, with over 10 lakh children affected and rising Nutrition Rehabilitation Centre admissions.
- The state spends Rs 980 per child at NRCs and allocated Rs 4,895 crore for 2025–26, yet ground realities show persistent gaps.
- High anaemia rates among women (57%) worsen prospects for the next generation despite welfare efforts and distribution of nutritional food.
