IMPROVING NUTRITION IN TAMIL NADU: INSIGHTS FROM EXAMINING TRENDS IN OUTCOMES, DETERMINANTS AND INTERVENTIONS BETWEEN 2006 AND 2016

Click image to download PDF

Tamil Nadu, situated on the east cost of India, accounts for 4 percent area of the country, includes 32 districts subdivided by 385 blocks, 12,618 villages and 561 towns (Government of Tamil Nadu, 2017). Tamil Nadu is home to more than 70 million (6 percent of population of India) (Government of Tamil Nadu, 2017) and is better positioned compared to many other states in terms of economy, infrastructure, industrialization, governance and social indicators. The state has a literacy rate of over 80 percent (Census of India, 2011).

The purpose of this Policy Note is to examine the trends in undernutrition in Tamil Nadu, and to document trends in the major determinants of nutrition and the coverage of key nutrition and health interventions. In doing this analysis, we aim to highlight key areas for actions to improve nutrition in Tamil Nadu.