Stakeholders Urge Government to Scale-up Child Nutrition Grant and Expand Nationwide 

Stakeholders including member of parliaments have strongly urged the government to increase the child nutrition grant from the current NPR 532 to NPR 1,000. The appeal was made during a national policy discussion program organized by Social Protection Civil Society Network in collaboration with Save the Children, UNICEF, (Empowered Women Prosperous Nepal Program), and We Social Movement. The event highlighted the importance of expanding the child nutrition grant and strengthening Nepal’s overall social protection system. 

During the discussion, Members of Parliament committed to raising their voices within Parliament to ensure that the child nutrition grant is scaled up to all 77 districts of Nepal, not just the current 25. They emphasized the need to increase the monthly amount to NPR 1,000 and ensure equitable access for all eligible children, regardless of geography. They also called for robust monitoring mechanisms to ensure the grants are being used effectively and for the benefit of children’s health and well-being. 

Prakash Kumar Shrestha, a member of the National Planning Commission, pointed out that social protection programs must be gradually strengthened and made more inclusive over time. He emphasized the importance of prioritizing investment in early childhood, as such investments are critical for long-term human capital development and national prosperity. 

Parliamentarians including Sitakumari Rana Magar, Ishwari Gharti Magar, Damodar Poudel Bairagi, Ranjukumari Jha, Kalpana Miya Kusari, Harimaya Bishwakarma, Pooja Chaudhary, and Vineeta Kumari Singh highlighted the urgent need for equitable social security provisions. They stressed that no child should be left behind and that the nutrition grant should be recognized as a critical step toward achieving children’s rights and social justice. They also expressed concern about rising malnutrition in remote areas, where 36% of children suffer from undernourishment, and emphasized maintaining the legal marriage age at 20 to prevent early childbearing. 

UNICEF policy specialist Thakur Dhakal acknowledged that while resource limitations exist, effective prioritization is key. He noted that families with children under the age of six are among the poorest in Nepal and should be prioritized in the distribution of social protection benefits. He also emphasized that better management and strategic allocation of available resources are more important than simply increasing the budget. 

Officials from Save the Children and the Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens echoed the need for investment in children’s early development. Gopal Nepali from Save the Children emphasized that everyone must take personal responsibility to ensure meaningful investments are made in children’s well-being. Milan Bhattarai, Undersecretary at the Ministry, shared that budget preparation is underway at the provincial and local levels to support child-focused programs, though only 442 local governments have appointed child welfare officers so far. 

Vice-Chairperson from the National Child Rights Council pointed out that the problem lies not in lack of funds, but in weak management and implementation. They called for the establishment of child protection mechanisms within parliamentary constituencies and urged that social protection must be extended fairly to all those in need. 

Speakers at the event, including Mina Sharma from the National Campaign for Children as Zones of Peace (CZOP), and Bidur Subedi from the Human Rights Alliance, stressed that investing in children yields strong long-term returns and that children must be treated with dignity and equality. They advocated for child-friendly governance and maintaining a supportive legal environment. 

Nepal has approximately 40% of its population under the age of 18. The Constitution of Nepal (Article 43) guarantees social security as a fundamental right. The Children’s Act (2018) also ensures children’s right to health and nutrition. Moreover, Nepal is a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which mandates that children’s best interests be prioritized in all policies. 

The child nutrition grant program began in fiscal year 2009/10, initially targeting all children in the five districts of the former Karnali zone and Dalit children under five nationwide, with a monthly amount of NPR 200. It was later expanded to 25 districts and raised to NPR 532. To date, around 1.09 million children have benefited. However, studies show that the grant reaches only 45% of under-five children and 9.5% of all children in the country. 

Research has shown that the first five years are critical for brain development, accounting for about 90% of a child’s cognitive growth. Investments in early childhood lead to better health, skill development, and long-term productivity. Additionally, evidence from the UN and other research institutions confirms that child grants help increase birth registration, improve food security, reduce child labor, and build trust in government institutions. 

The event concluded with a unified call for all stakeholders to work together to increase the child nutrition grant and expand its reach to all districts in Nepal. Tilottam Paudel, Chairperson of the Social Protection Civil Society Network, emphasized that investment in children is an investment in the nation, and that all sectors must collaborate to make this a reality.