As per central government data from November 2020, Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of children with Severe Acute Malnourishment (SAM). Out of 9.28 lakh kids in India with SAM, UP alone accounts for 3.98 lakh. That’s 43% of the national figure.
From 2017-18 to 2020-21, the Centre released Rs 570 crore to UP under the Prime Minister's Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nutrition or POSHAN Abhiyaan. But till March 2021, the Govt. of Uttar Pradesh had only utilised 34% of the funds.
66% of the funds have remained unutilised by the UP government.