Malnutrition is split into three categories according to the weight and other health indicators among the children.

While Grade I is the primary stage and can be tackled with food supplements, Grade IV is the worst where children can be saved only through medical intervention.

The reports were submitted to the Centre a month ago and it was found that among the five states in North India, Ghazipur has the highest number of Grade IV malnourished children.

Lenin Raghuvanshi, a social rights activist working on the issue of malnourishment among children in eastern UP, said: “It is not just shocking but a situation to worry about. We have done several surveys and the situation is serious.”

“Although the Centre does send funds for the ICDS, whether or not they are reaching the right beneficiaries needs to be found out,” Raghuvanshi added.

Admitting the problem, the Child Development Programme Officer of Ghazipur, R P Maurya said, “The results have shocked us and we realise that there are holes which need to be plugged to ensure that every child is covered under the ICDS.”

Maurya said that they would now intensify the programme in the block and village level.

Chief Development Officer and officiating district magistrate Vanshraj Singh said that they will now probe the situation.

“We need to check why the ICDS programme is not helping such children. We will also ensure that the worst cases are given immediate medical attention,” said Singh.