National Nutrition Strategy released -Governance Now

National Nutrition Strategy released

The strategy looks at eradicating malnourishment

GN Bureau | September 6, 2017

#malnourishment #nutrition strategy #Niti Aayog

(Illustration: Ashish Asthana)

India pays an income penalty of 9 to 10 percent as the workforce was stunted during their childhood, showed the National Nutrition Strategy released by NITI Aayog.

The government think-tank says that with a benefit to cost ratio of 16:1 for 40 low and middle-income countries, there is a well-recognized rationale, globally, for investing in nutrition. The recently published National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4) results reflect some progress, with a decline in the overall levels of under nutrition in both women and children. However, the pace of decline is far below what numerous countries with similar growth trajectories to India have achieved.

The strategy envisages a framework wherein the four proximate determinants of nutrition – uptake of health services, food, drinking water and sanitation and income and livelihoods – work together to accelerate decline of under nutrition in India. Currently, there is also a lack of real time measurement of these determinants, which reduces our capacity for targeted action among the most vulnerable mothers and children.

Read: For a more nutritious India

Addressing India’s nutrition requirement, strategy lays down the roadmap for effective action, among both implementers and practitioners, in achieving nutrition objectives. “Supply side challenges often overshadow the need to address behavioural change efforts to generate demand for nutrition services. This strategy, therefore, gives prominence to demand and community mobilisation as a key determinant to address India's nutritional needs,” said the press release on Tuesday.

It also calls for a Kuposhan Mukt Bharat, linked to Swachh Bharat and Swasth Bharat. The aim is to ensure that states create customised state/district action plans to address local needs and challenges. This is especially relevant in view of enhanced resources available with the states, to prioritise focused interventions with a greater role for panchayats and urban local bodies.

The first consultation to evolve the strategy was held in NITI Aayog on October 28, 2015. The Aayog was tasked with preparing the draft by the end of December 2015.

Comments

Other News

Mobile coverage has expanded to include 6.22 lakh villages

Out of 6,44,131 villages in the country (as per the Registrar General of India), around 6,22,840 villages have mobile coverage and out of these, 6,14,564 villages are covered with 4G mobile connectivity as on 30.09.2024. Under Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN) Mis

Community-driven tourism for a sustainable India

Tourism is a vital pillar of economic growth and employment generation all across the world. It offers vast potential for sustainable livelihoods while promoting India’s rich cultural and natural heritage. According to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), tourism`s contribution to India&rsq

Autumn in Delhi is a sight to behold – grey air or no grey air

Delhi: A Nature Journal By Anuradha Kumar-Jain, with Illustrations by Bahaar Meera Jain Rupa Publications, 240 pages, Rs 695

The overlooked link: climate policy and public health

Returning from a recent Renewable Energy (RE) meeting of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), UN in Germany, I was struck by the news of Delhi’s record-high AQI levels forcing partial closures across NCR. This alarming situation begs the question: Is our health sector climate-resilient enough

Exploring the treasures of India arts is a treat with this guide

The Big Book of Indian Art: An Illustrated History of Indian Art from Its Origins to the Present Day By Bina Sarkar Ellias Aleph Book Company, 815 pages, Rs 2,499

Himalayan heights potentially perfect for India`s ‘Quantum Leap’ to space: Study

In a pioneering study for the Indian subcontinent, scientists have mapped out optimal locations for beaming quantum signals into space. Satellite-based quantum communications including quantum key distribution (QKD) represent one of the most promising approaches toward global-scale quantum c