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India needs to spend at least Rs 1,000 crore a year to tackle nutrition-related problems among children and women in 200 high-burden districts, the Working Group on Nutrition has said, proposing an overall allocation of Rs 10,175 crore for nutrition in the 12th Plan period (2012-17).
As of now, 70 per cent children (6-35 months), 56.2 per cent women and 56 per cent adolescent girls are anaemic in the country.
A report of the working group set up by the Planning Commission and headed by the Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development, also noted a marked drop in intake of cereals and pulses in both rural and urban areas, as also milk products, fruits and vegetables.
“The steep rise in the prices of pulses, vegetables, oils and dairy products has resulted in further reduction in the already low consumption of these among low and middle income families,” it said.
Calling for highest priority to the challenge of under-nutrition, the report suggested inclusion of nutrition in the Food Security Bill, which is pending passage in Parliament. Once the Bill is passed, people could be educated to use their savings from subisidised foodgrains to buy legumes and vegetables, it added.
Over time, the report also suggested inclusion of edible oils, pulses and cooking fuel in the list of subsidised goods to be made available to the poor.
To check malnourishment among children, the report suggested strengthening and restructuring the Integrated Child Development Scheme in “mission mode”, to combat micro-nutrient deficiencies, such as of Vitamin A, iodine and iron.
Citing the success of fortified wheat flour and double fortified salt, it suggested exploring public-private partnerships for production of fortified foods within a comprehensive policy framework.
The working group, consisting of Government, civil society and sector experts, flagged the growing ‘dual burden’ of under-nutrition and over-nutrition in the country. “A small but increasing percentage of overweight children are at greater risk of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and cardio-vascular heart disease.” It proposed screening and raising awareness on the need for a balanced diet.
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