Karnataka Study Finds Persistent Child Malnutrition Despite High Programme Spending

A Fiscal Policy Institute study found that <b>35.4% of children under five in Karnataka are stunted</b>, while 19.5% suffer from wasting and 32.9% are underweight. The stunting rate is marginally below the national average of 35.5%, but far above the Sustainable Development Goal target of 13.5% by 2030. Karnataka allocated Rs 3.45 lakh crore to child-centred programmes from 2020-21 to 2026-27, the country’s highest per capita outlay at Rs 34,186. The study says <b>85% of this spending went to formal education</b>, leaving foundational health and nutrition underfunded. It identifies nutrition as a major weakness despite the state’s substantial programme spending.