New Delhi: Haryana emerged as one of the worst-performing states in North India when it comes to child malnutrition, with over 23 percent of children under the age of five recorded as stunted.
The data, shared by the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development in the Rajya Sabha, paints a troubling picture when compared to neighbouring states like Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Ladakh.
Minister of State Savitri Thakur, responding to a question from MP Saket Gokhale, said Haryana had the highest share of stunted children at 23.41 percent, followed by 7.85 percent underweight and 3.83 percent wasted children, according to June 2025 figures from the government’s 'Poshan Tracker'.
Gaps in Access, Migrant Populations Add to Woes
While Haryana’s stunting rate is higher than that of even the Union Territory of Chandigarh, the picture is nuanced. Chandigarh, for instance, recorded 22.27 percent stunted children but showed worse numbers in other categories, with 5.34 percent wasted and a striking 14.69 percent underweight children.
According to experts quoted by The Tribune, the situation in Haryana, is deeply linked to its changing demographics and urbanisation. Migrant families often fall through the cracks of public health interventions, which remain inaccessible to many due to logistical or systemic barriers.
Child Mortality Rates Also Higher Than Neighbours
The state’s poor nutrition outcomes are reflected in its infant and child mortality numbers as well. Haryana’s Neonatal Mortality Rate stands at 18 per 1,000 live births, higher than Punjab and Himachal Pradesh (both at 12) and Jammu & Kashmir (10), as per the Sample Registration System (SRS) Report 2022.
In terms of Under-Five Mortality Rate (U5MR), Haryana recorded 31 deaths per 1,000 live births, again surpassing Himachal (22), J\&K (17) and Punjab (19). Kerala reported the lowest U5MR at nine, while Madhya Pradesh had the highest at 47.
