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Transcript of Report on Madhya Pradesh State Nutrition Convention for Hunger and Malnutrition Free Inclusive...
Dr. M. Mukhtar Alam, Senior State Advocacy Coordinator
NATIONAL CONFEDERATION OF DALIT ORGANISATIONS m-3,22,model town-iii
,delhi-110009
REPORT ON MADHYA PRADESH STATE NUTRITION CONVENTION HELD ON 20
OCTOBER AT GANDHI BHAWAN, BHOPAL
Report on Madhya Pradesh State Nutrition Convention
National Campaign on Nutrition for Dignity- NACDOR 1
Report
Toward Malnutrition and Hunger Free Inclusive Madhya Pradesh State Level Convention on Nutrition organized as part of National Campaign on Nutrition for Dignity (NCND) An initiative of National Confederation of Dalit Organisations (NACDOR) in partnership with Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN)) Date: 20 October,2014 Time: 9.00 am to 5.00 pm Venue: Jai Prabha Hall, Gandhi Bhawan, Bhopal
Dalits and their position in Indian Society Dalits represent a community of 166 million in India, constituting 16.2% (Census 2011) of the population. It means one out of every six Indians is Dalit. Though Dalit population constitute a significant number of the total Indian population, their control over resources of the country is marginal—less than 5%. Close to half of the Dalit population lives under the Poverty Line, and even more (62%) are illiterate. Among the Dalits, most of those engaged in agricultural work are landless or nearly landless agricultural labourers. The average household income for Dalits was of Rs. 17,465 in 1998, just 68% of the national average.
Dalits due to their caste identity regularly face discrimination and violence which prevent them from enjoying the basic human rights and dignity guaranteed to all citizens of India. They are daily victims of the worst crimes and atrocities, far outnumbering other sections of society in that respect as well. The vast majority of these crimes remain unreported due to omnipresent fear, and those that are reported are often ignored by police or end up languishing in the backlogged court system. Even after 67 years of Independence, India is still very much afflicted by the cancer of the caste system. Therefore Dalits remain the most vulnerable, marginalized and brutalized community in the country. Nutrition and issues of exclusion and untouchability Despite India’s remarkable economic growth over the last decade, many children still struggle to meet their most basic needs, including access to sufficient food and health care. According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-3, 2005-2006), 20 % of Indian children under five years old are wasted and 48 % are stunted. Importantly, with 43 % of children underweight, rates of child underweight in India are twice higher than the average figure in sub-Saharan Africa (22%).The relationship between social exclusion and malnutrition is made explicit by researchers analyzing trends in malnutrition. Children from Adivasi and Dalit and backward castes are estimated to be twice as likely to be underweight than children from other social background. The incidence of malnutrition Scheduled Caste children under the age of five is 50.6 % (Thorat and Sabharwal, 2011) –against the national average of 48 % (NFHS-3). Furthermore, children whose mothers have little or no education are 66 % more likely to be underweight due to cyclical relationship between poverty, exclusion and restricted access to infrastructure and services. The Dalit population is the most vulnerable section, affected by multidimensional poverty and deprivation. On the other hand, Adivasi, who are theoretically located outside the ambit of mainstream caste-based social structure are at the bottom of all development indices. Adivasi population in India is historically neglected, at the same time their problem is also geographical. They inhabit in the most remote areas of the country, where the fruits of development seldom reach to them. There are vast empirical evidences, to suggest that Dalit and Adivasi population are suffering from multiple deprivations and also exposed to various forms of discrimination in the public life. The study by Baraik and Kulkarni (2006)
Report on Madhya Pradesh State Nutrition Convention
National Campaign on Nutrition for Dignity- NACDOR 2
indicates that the level of infant mortality among the Dalit and Adivasi population was substantially higher than the non-scheduled population. Furthermore, Dalit and Adivasi in India have less access to health care facilities and their overall nutritional status is much lower (Roy, Kulkarni and Vaidehi: 2004). Social inequality of child malnutrition between the SC, ST and the Non-Scheduled component has been studied by Sinha (2005) and Mishra (2006). The undernourishment among SC and ST populations are primarily due to extensive poverty among them. Because of the higher levels of poverty and other underlying factors of undernutrition, like- household food security, care of the children, access to health and sanitation facilities etc. are also tend to effect. The persistent higher levels of poverty and undernutrition among the SC & ST population is also attributed to different policy failures. Therefore the importance of scrutinizing several policy factors also becomes important for understanding of it.
Crisis of malnutrition in Madhya Pradesh with emphasis on SC and ST
Children are one third of the population in India and they need social support systems that
enable them to grow a healthy person contributing to the family and national wellbeing.
Child survival, development and protection are the critical phases in the lifecycle of a child
that has constitutional and legal framework of protection under the constitution of India
through article 41. Child survival is dependent on the social, economic and cultural factors
that influence the survival possibilities of children where nutrition is an important factor
for child survival in the first 1000 years. Reducing level of malnutrition, eliminating
deficiency of micronutrient, ensuring enrollment in schools and retention and enhancing
rate of education completion are the key issues in development of children while prevention
of exploitation, discrimination and violence on the children are critical issues in the
protection of children.
In Madhya Pradesh, there are successes achieved but the indicators refer to the attainment
of goal shows that the state would not be achieving the millennium development goals and
this is the reason ,the state is under 8 empowered action states. As per the annual health
survey 2010-11, the declining sex ratio is a challenge in the state where death of girl children
results from the selection of the boys and some other discriminatory practices. Despite
running of several schemes and successes, the state has a nutritional challenge that needs
to be meet collectively while the state is bound by the constitutional and legal obligations.
The state of Madhya Pradesh was rated 30.9 on the Indian State Hunger Index. The planning
commission has termed hunger index of the state of Madhya Pradesh as extremely alarming.
The rank of Madhya Pradesh has fallen to 17 in the year 2008 from 11 in the year 1994.
Madhya Pradesh is the biggest contributor of the total neo natal and child mortality death
in the country. The state of Madhya Pradesh recorded for highest infant mortality rate (IMR)
in the NFHS-3 i.e. 72 for all while for SC the rate is 81.5 and for ST it is 95.6 per 1000
chhildren. The state of Madhya Pradesh is second highest in maternal mortality rate (MMR)
i.e. 379 per 1,00,000 live births. Since 1990, the most of the underweight children are in
Madhya Pradesh. Nearly 16% of the population in Madhya Pradesh in below six years ages,
needs health, nutrition and development care.
For the neonatal death rate of children dying before completing 29 days, Madhya Pradesh
has the highest with the figure of 44.9 per 1000 with SC neonatal death rate being 50.2 and
ST neonatal death rate being 56.5. The situation of children below the age of one year’s
dying is also a concern in Madhya Pradesh having the highest figure in the nation with 62
Report on Madhya Pradesh State Nutrition Convention
National Campaign on Nutrition for Dignity- NACDOR 3
children dying but in the last decade it has improved by 12 point from 52 . Infant mortality
rate as per NFHS-3 was 70 for all while it was 95.6 for ST children.
Madhya Pradesh tops the lists of undernourished state with 60.3% children under 5, % below
2 SD and here the figure for SC children is 62.5 and ST figure is 71.4 as per NFHS-3. With
reference to child death rate in the share of total death rate, the rate for Madhya Pradesh
is the highest being 20.4 %. Below 5 mortality rate at the national level has reduced over
the last decade from 125 to 59 as per the Annual Health survey 2010-2011. Madhya Pradesh
falls below Assam in having the highest number of death in this category with the figure of
82/1000. As per NFHS-3, under 5 child mortality was 94.2 per 1000 while this was more
distressing for ST being 140.4 followed by SC children being 110.1. Breast feeding within
one hour of birth was for all groups was 15.9 per cent while this was 17.4 per cent among
SCs and 11.7 per cent among STs. Aneamia prevalence among children under 5 was 74.1 for
all while this was 75.6 for SCs and 82.5 for STs. Vaccination of children was lowest among
STs being 22.3 while for all it was 40.3, SC fared better than the average on this having the
figure of 40.5 . 39.9 per 1000 children under 3 years were stunted and 33.3 per 1000 were
wasted.
Sex ratio in MP varied across the urban and rural areas.
In the Urban areas sex ratio is between 895 and 935 and
in the rural areas the same is between the ranges of 879
to 917. Sex ratio at the time of birth has improved in the
last decade in India being 892 in 2002 while the same in
2008-10 was 905. In the case of birth registration MP has
not yet received 100 % registration. With reference to
child death rate in the share of total death rate, the rate
for MP is the highest being 20.4 %.
For the neonatal death rate of children dying before
completing 29 days, MP has the highest with the figure
of 44 per 1000. At the national level, the rate has
reduced in the decade from 66 to 47 .There is an urban
rural divide here with 20 point difference. The situation
of children below the age of one year’s dying is also a
concern in Madhya Pradesh having the highest figure in
the nation with 62 children dying but in the last decade
it has improved by 12 point . District Panna has the highest rate of death being 93/1000.
Here the millennium development goals was to reduce the rate by2/3 r d .In MP, 20 points
improvement is needed for attaining the millennium development goals for the state as per
the annual health Survey 2010-11. As per NFHS-3, malnutrition is particularly prevalent
among the SCs, STs, OBCs and Muslims. SC Muslims have the highest proportion of
underweight children followed by ST-Hindus and SC-Hindus. Women from SC-Hindu and SC-
Muslims have the highest incidence of malnutrition (Thorat and Sabharwal, 2011) cited in
The Crisis of Malnutrition in India, A Dalit View Point.
Below 5 mortality rate at the national level has reduced over the last decade from 125 to
59. MP falls below Assam in having the highest number of death in this category with the
figure of 82/1000. Considering the gender disparity, MP falls below UP having the highest
disparity of 9 while MP has 7 point gender gap. Panna has the highest under 5 mortality rate
of 140/1000 while Indore has the lowest figure of 51/1000.
Figure 1 Deepak in village Ansra, Chataini Panchayat, Rewa remains malnourished due to extremely poor delivery of ICDS services
Report on Madhya Pradesh State Nutrition Convention
National Campaign on Nutrition for Dignity- NACDOR 4
As national level, India has to have the rate of 42 while, India is reaching the target of 52
missing the millennium development goals targets target by 10 points. MP is falling behind
as well. As per a study measuring the performance of states through developing a Child
Under nutrition Index (CUI) Child Nutrition Score (CNS), Madhya Pradesh ranks second after
Bihar which shows the urgency that state of Madhya Pradesh must have for addressing the
deficits in the scores and thereby eliminating child under-nutrition on a war footing.
The Convention The convention as part of National Campaign on Nutrition for Dignity (NCND) designed to advance our knowledge and scholarship; offer recommendations for suitable change in policy and programs; engage with multiple stakeholders to further the agenda of Nutrition from the perspective of Dalits and Adivasis was organized . It would provide a platform to social activists, CSO leaders, INGO representatives, Government officials, political leaders,
experts and community leaders to share their ideas and views on issues related to malnutrition and try to find a way out for addressing this serious issue in an inclusive manner. These conventions are being planned to highlight the voices and concerns of a variety of stakeholders whose lives and life-styles have been affected due to the absence of inadequate nutrition. This convention was organized to bring Dalit and Adivasi voices from the ground to highlight the challenges faced by them in accessing services related to nutrition and Food Security. Through the Conventions, NACDOR sought suggestions and opinions of Dalit leaders, intellectuals, media representatives, CSO leaders, experts and subject specialists on nutrition and Food Security issues. The convention geared for increasing accountability, transparency and effectiveness in the implementation process of ICDS, PDS and MDM had the following objectives. Purpose of the State Level Convention
1. To share experiences on the situation of malnutrition in the state ground realities
from the social audits and sharing of experience on the implementation of the
schemes for nutrition and food security
2. To bring all the stakeholders and duty bearers together for discussing the state of
nutrition in the state with special focus on Dalits, Adivasis, minorities and vulnerable
communities
3. To assess the convergence that has been achieved in the application of the multi-
sectoral approach undertaken for nutrition and food security
4. To create an interface with the state level nutrition ,health and education
authorities in order to seek advice on the way forward for civil society engagement
geared for realizing the nutrition and health related goals in the state
5. To strengthen the state wide attention on malnutrition and under nutrition among
the SC and ST and highlight the violation of entitlements and rights in nutrition and
food security program.
6. To discuss the critical issues of advocacy in order to realize malnutrition and hunger
Free State by increasing accountability, transparency and effectiveness in the
implementation process of ICDS, MDM and PDS and other schemes enlisted for
convergence.
Expected Outcome
A platform created for sharing ideas and models addressing malnutrition and hunger among Dalits, Adivasis and minorities and generating recommendations for improving
Report on Madhya Pradesh State Nutrition Convention
National Campaign on Nutrition for Dignity- NACDOR 5
effectiveness of the delivery mechanisms which have been put in place for addressing malnutrition and hunger.
The conclave of Dalit leaders, intellectuals, CSOs working on Nutrition, Education and Governance organized ensuring discussion and deliberation on making Madhya Pradesh malnutrition and hunger free and inclusive and through sharing of various initiatives undertaken by the Government Ministries as well as National and International Civil Society Organisations and leading Dalit Rights Networks to address
malnutrition and hunger
Awareness raised on key strategies, approaches and tools developed by National and State Governments, International and National Civil society organisations and networks working in India in finding effective and sustainable ways for eradicating under nutrition and malnutrition among Dalits, Adivasis and vulnerable communities.
Recommendations generated for the programmes and strategies of Ministries that are listed for convergence in action for realizing the goals of National Nutrition Policy such as Ministry of Women and Child Development, Ministry of Panchayati Raj and Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment an so on for realizing the vision of malnutrition and hunger free Inclusive Madhya Pradesh with focus on Dalits, Adivasis, minorities and vulnerable groups.
Deliberations:
Dr. M.Mukhtar Alam welcomed all the guests and explained the context of the conventions
sharing the purposes, critical learnings of the social audit, advocacy framework in the GAIN
supported and NACDOR led National Convention on Nutrition for Dignity. He highlighted the
seamless activities that are taking place in the campaign through addressing the
administrative and policy gaps that were being identified through social audits at the ground
level. He informed that officials who had confirmed earlier did not come and therefore the
session with the government officials had to be given . With the brief welcome and
description of the context, he called for introduction of all the participants.
After introduction , session with the elected representatives and governance specialists was
brought in order with the sharing of Ms. Shashi Rani of Women’s Resource Centre, Ms.
Shibani Sharma, Hunger Project ,Mr.Mastram Ghosh, Secretary Social Change Foundation
and District Nutrition Leader and Mr. Ram Charan Kol, former Sarpanch ,Chataini panchayat
of Rewa district. Ms. Rashmi shared about her work in the panchayats with women who were
empowered to deliver best through participating in the Panchayat planning processes. Ms.
Shibani Sharma of Hunger Project shared about her work in the improving local governance.
She informed that Hunger Project is part of the Standing Committee of SPHERE.
Informing on her work for nutrition, she informed about the need to activate Village Health,
Sanitation and Nutrition committees in order to ensure better nutrition governance. She
focussed on the shifting cropping pattern that is creating scarcity of produce that were
meant for the making a fulsome nutritional package with regular animal husbandry and
backyard vegetable cultivations. She highlighted the depletion of traditional foods. For the
nutritional package that is currently following through ICDS, MDM and PDS, she highlighted
as to the different preferences of the communities . She suggested the community
preferences could be factored in the choice of nutritional package. She highlighted the
convergence gaps in the monitoring of nutrition and food security related programmes. On
the impact of NRC centres for children, she called for regular feeding of children as per the
stipulated Menu in order to maintain the nutritional status received at the Nutrition
Report on Madhya Pradesh State Nutrition Convention
National Campaign on Nutrition for Dignity- NACDOR 6
Rehabilitation centres. Reflecting on the food security, she called for addressing all the
policy gaps.
Mr. Mastram Ghosh shared on the
impact of social audits
highlighting the actions that has
been possible. He shared on the
notices that were served to
Anganwadi karyakartas who were
not attending the duties at the
Anganwadi centre. He shared on
the report of the case of Lalla
Saur whose family despite being
large were not receiving ration
for many years for all members in
the households. Considering the
despicable condition of 91 year
old Lalla Saur and his wife Ratani Saur, he informed on its reporting to Mr. Sachin Jain who
wrote a letter to the collector of district and then tehseeldar for Niwari block gave coupons
for all in the family before card could be made. Further he informed on the following:
Many Ananganwadi Karyakartas are running self help group which creates a vested
interest. In Kaina, there are 35 Anganwadi Karyakartas who are running the self help
group for giving food for Anganwadi and school.
Weighing is not proper for the grains given to people. There are cases when people
are being abused. He sighted the example of Bhagwat Prasad Ahirwar who had
testified on this and then action was taken after the social audit.
PDS dealers have fixed 27,28 and 29 for distribution and if people are not taking the
ration on these days, their share is sold out.
Those who do not are taking the ration and selling the same in the market. Action
has been taken by the Supply officer.
Gram sabha under the social audit is proving most effective as these are not
happening and this is the reason , there is need to support NGOs in organizing social
audit processes in the support of Gram Sabha.
Panchayat leaders are not organizing Gram Sabhas. Social audit process organized
Gram Sabhas were the first with the participation of so many Dalit, Adivasis and
vulnerable communities.
Recommended for more support to the social audit processes at the panchayat level.
Mr.Ram Charan Kol , Former Sarpanch spoke on the social audits conducted in Jatri,
Chataini, Sohawal Plot, Madri, Geduraha panchayats. He enthusiastically informed that
social audit processes has generated results. On the follow up action, he informed a Thakur
who had sold out grains for three months. He collected the ration cards and then met the
dealer who had to give all the ration through buying from the market. This was a good
impact of the social audit process. He noted several other results of the social audit
processes. Women self help groups who have not received payment received ten thousand
each. On the strategy for taking action, he says that taking a group of people is helpful
rather than having only few representing the issues of deficit in delivery. Further sharing on
the impact of social audit he reported that teachers are coming regulary now. Food for
children at Anganwadi is not yet coming and for this action has to be taken in the Lafda
village. PDS salesman is distributing grains regularly.
Report on Madhya Pradesh State Nutrition Convention
National Campaign on Nutrition for Dignity- NACDOR 7
Dr.M.Mukhtar Alam shared more on his personal experience of being part of the social audit
processes in the districts of Morena, Damoh, Teekamgarh and Rewa and acknowledge the
testimonies on the impact of the social audit shared by Mr. Mastram Ghosh and Mr. Ram
Charan Kol. He highlighted the fact that social audit is provisioned but it is not being taken
up. However, with the NACDOR initiated community led social audit processes in the support
of Gram Sabha is proving an effective tool which must be taking place every six month. He
highlighted how social audit ensured delivery of entitlements and how these have been
demonstrated to happen as a result of social audit processes conducted in four districts for
having large impact. He cited the example of Morena district social audit where the social
audit processes and its sharing in the news has created multiplier impact with increasing
monitoring visits for MDM, ICDS and where there has been a slew of action reported in the
newspapers. Comments were sought from the participants:
Narendra Sharma ji of Action Aid called for adoption of rights based approach for
delivery of services and those responsible should deliver.
Prof. Sarah Husain wondered where NGOs has nutritionists as part of their team for
advising on the nutrition and diet in urban and rural areas. A debate ensued on this
with the sharing that nutrition is not a matter of specialists only considering the fact
that knowledge on nutrition has been part of community knowledge systems.
Mr. Narendra Sharma, Action Aid felt that exisitiing knowledge on nutrition in the
community needs to be used rather than induction of packaged nutrition formulas
for all children across the region and communities.
Village Health, Sanitation and Nutrition Committees need to be activated and
trained.
Use of local knowledge on nutrition needs to be encouraged and support for this
needs to be provided along with induction of nutritious products for under nourished
and malnourished children. A holistic approach needs to be taken.
Shibani Sharma noting the Community nutrition processes that are on found that
food security issues are critical along with nutrition security.
Mr. Narendra Sharma expressed caution for the packaged induction of nutrition
through the involvement of corporations.
Dr. Syed Maharul Hasan called for having a balanced approach for eradication
malnutrition and under nutrition where community education is important with the
involvement of nutritionists, nutrition messaging, building native knowledge,
supporting malnutrition prone households.
Shibani Sharma of Hunger Project called for long term strategy for addressing under-
nutrition and malnutrition addressing all the factors.
Mr. Narendra Sharma observed on the reason as to why 70 per cent of Adivasi children
have been malnourished though the incidence was not high earlier. He wondered
whether this figure is part of a corporate strategy.
Mr. Sukant Chandra Behera pointed out that malnutrition has been part of Dalit and
Adivasi lives which is getting exacerbated in the current condition f their
dispossession, landlessness and powerlessness.
Mr.Jayant Lakra from Action Aid called for customizing the nutrition inputs given
through ICDS and ensure sustainability of the nutritional intake by all .
Dr. Sarah Hasan called for sharing on how low cost nutritional intake such as palak
juice, liver soup eliminates Anemia faster and this needs to be adopted as per the
dietary preferences.
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National Campaign on Nutrition for Dignity- NACDOR 8
Mr. Krishna Singh Bamania shared on the traditional way of keeping Gur and Chana
for people in the households where people used to partake of that. There was
abundance of Mahua and local nutritional produces that were available for all but
these are not being focused now considering the focus on packaged nutrition.
Livestock rearing with agricutlrue, vegetable cultivations was part of sustainable
nutrition rich consumption patterns but the same is being abandoned. Mr. Mastram
Ghosh cited how his household had more than 25 cows and buffaloes giving enough
milk for the household and generating surplus as well.
Concluding the session on nutrition governance, lunch was announced.
In the post lunch session with the International Organisations and development support
organisation, Mr Narendra Sharma highlighted the fact that poverty and malnutrition is
structured. Citing the example of some tribes like Saharia , Baiga and Bharia where
malnutrition has been reported very low to the extent of 94 per cent and at this rate it is
likely that children who would be able to survive would not be more than 45%. Citing these
rates on the reported severe malnutrition, he called for adoption of community based
nutrtion rehabilitation in order to ensure sustained support for the malnourished children
households adopting the social justice framework realising rights for the rights holders and
ensuring delivery by the service
providers.
For the approach for organisations in
order to ensure realisation of the
vision of malnutrition and hunger free
Inclusive Madhya Pradesh, he called
for capacity building of organisations;
research and development from
generating knowledge enabling
corrective action ;local panchayat
level training and workshops engaging
Sarpanches ,Panchayat secretaries ,
village health, sanitation and nutrition
committees, social audit groups , pregnant and lactating mothers, community leaders and
youths from among Dalits, Adivasis and vulnerable communities and Advocacy on the issues
that contribute in the realisation of the vision of malnutrition and hunger free Madhya
Pradesh.
Suggesting the measure, he called for strengthening networking of NGOs including
community based organisations. He called for organising advocacy event in order to highlight
the issues. He called for letter writing campaign emanating from the districts.
Mr. Krishna Singh Bamania called for adopting a comprehensive approach building justice
and reviving traditional nutrition package in the village that had been existing while ensuring
support for all families, children in distress.
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National Campaign on Nutrition for Dignity- NACDOR 9
Mr. Ashok Bharti highlighted the importance of connecting the conventional wisdom and
knowledge system with the modern instruments and processes for achieving parity in
nutrition eliminating
malnutrition and under nutrition
across the communities with a
focus on Dalits and Adivasis and
vulnerable communities who
indeed have malnutrition and
under nutrition. He citing how
male and female are both
malnourished and there are
knowledge deficits on nutrition
that make many malnourished
despite having money . He cited
the example of women having
goitre due to iodine deficiency,
infants not receiving the
mothers milk. He called for producing a viable business model for nutritious intake using
the conventional knowledge on the nutritious elements and foods. He shared that Mongoloid
syndrome is also a result of poor nutrition. Calling for combination of approaches engaging
all the stakeholders, he called for developing a mega project that would be able to use the
best practice for delivery of nutrition through grassroot action, state level and national level
advocacy.
Dr.Syed Maharul Hasan Founder of United Reformers Organisation with years of experience
in campaign on good governance called Sushashan Abhiyan recalled an instance of how a
minister visited a hospital and finding poor conditions there wished to get the intervention
of collector but collector could not reach there and when he spoke to Principal Secretary,
then he received the response for sharing all the observations in writing for suitable action.
He cited this story for highlighting the importance of written representations on the issues
of nutrition governance. Sharing on the challenges for nutrition, he called for understanding
the reasons for not realising the millennium development goals by 2015.
In the post tea session for sharing the district level experience ,learning of the nutrition
experts, Dr.M.Mukhtar Alam shared on the learning from social audit and informed that 24
social audits have been completed , State Coordination Committee has been formed and its
first meeting has been held. Informing on the seamless action envisaged under the project
for advocating on the issues. He informing the advocacy presentation has been made for the
learning on the social audit. Secretary, Finance, Government of Madhya Pradesh has been
requested for enhancing financial allocation for ICDS in order to ensure that all
infrastructure and salary related demands are met. Minister of Women and Child
Development at the central level has been petitioned for considering increase in the salary
of the ICDS worker, Assistants and Supervisors considering the learning on the low
compensation for them. Supervisors need to be supported with travel allowance. As part of
the coalition building, he informed that national coalition meeting have been planned for
building the pressure on the government for enhancing allocation and improving nutrition
governance.
Ms. Sonam Bamnele , District Nutrition Leader of NACDOR led National Campaign on
Nutrition for Dignity and member of the State Coordination Committee , National Campaign
on Nutrition for Dignity shared the social audits in the six panchayats .She felt that
Report on Madhya Pradesh State Nutrition Convention
National Campaign on Nutrition for Dignity- NACDOR 10
convention has generated a new energy. Impacts are visible in terms of regularity and much
more work has to be done for ensure delivery of the entitlements.
Mr. Pramel Gupta of Vrutti and member of the State Coordination Committee , National
Campaign on Nutrition for Dignity reflected on the impact of market in determining the
cropping pattern. He bemoaned how
eating packed namkeen had become
more normal across the rural and
urban areas. He called for supporting
diversity in the cropping pattern in
order to build in nutrition in
agriculture while encourage
vegetable cultivation, animal
husbandry. With the formation of
producer companies focussing on
small and marginal farmers,
Mr. Acchelal Kol shared on the results
of the social audit in the panchayats of Jatri, Chataini, Sohawal Plot, Madri ,Kota and
Geduraha. Pump was installed, teacher became regular. He called for sustained support for
social audits in order to ensure that there on slackness in the delivery of services. Ms. Sarah
Hasan , Assistant Professor ,SGHC College ,Bhopal ,Programme Officer ,Food ,Sports and
Nutrition called for engagement of nutrition expert in all stages of the capacity building ,
nutrition messaging. She highlighted to need to have simple communication on nutrition
that is understandable and suggested communication on nutrition in order to ensure that
people at large and Dalits, Adivasis and vulnerable communities receive best information on
nutrition. Nutrition is not treatment rather an comprehensive approach .Experts are needed
to monitor the
progress on nutrition.
There are simple
inductions that can be
made to food for
improving nutrition
such as inclusion of
Soya products and
eggs in the breakfast
for children for
improving the
nutritional status of
children. With the
sharing of Ms. Sarah
Hasan, Mr. Sukant
Chandra Behera ,
Team Leader,
NACDOR delivering the vote of thanks and summed up the discussion with an expression of
hope for contributions from all side in order to realise the vision of malnutrition and hunger
free Madhya Pradesh.
Recommendations:
Location of Nutrition Care and nutrition rehabilitation
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National Campaign on Nutrition for Dignity- NACDOR 11
Community based rehabilitation of malnourished children while maintaining the
institutionalized rehabilitation centres
Securing sustainability of nutrition in order to prevent relapse of malnutrition.
Support for households in nutrition care for malnourished children in the case of
nuclear families having both parent
Financing for Nutrition
Rate revision for MDM is needed in order to adjust with inflation in the prices so that
MDM delivering agencies and self-help groups are not constrained in cut in quantity,
quality and access for delivering of nutrition at ICDS and MDM.
Enhance per quintal commission for PDS dealers so that s/he is not forced to divert
the supplies under PDS and run many shops.
Inclusion in service providers for Nutrition
Ensure allocation of PDS shops to Dalit, Adivasi and minorities in order to ensure
inclusion and ensure access considering the reports that some upper castes
individuals owning shops are harassing Dalits , Adivasis and not giving the supplies as
per the provision.
Ensure procurement from through the food producer companies customizing
nutritional intake as much as possible while ensuring the fulfillment of calorie needs.
Balance should be maintained.
Cropping Pattern:
Cropping pattern that was devised for fulfilling nutritional needs to be supported
with the diversity of crops as per the native knowledge system while integrating
learning from the state of art research in nutrition.
Sustainability of nutrition inducing cropping patterns is more important than to
allocate all land for market oriented cropping pattern.
Land Right for Landless Dalit and Adivasi household across the religions
Land is a source of sustainable livelihood, nutrition and food security and therefore
special measure needs to be taken for Dalits and Adivasis across the religions who
are being forced out from traditional livelihoods in sector heavily influenced with
mechanization and industrialization.
Using the existing provision land titles should be given to Dalits and Adivasis enabling them to have conditions for growing nutrition food, fruits and vegetable and engaging in animal husbandry.
Monitoring
Community led social audit groups to be supported through NGOs engaging
village health ,sanitation and nutrition committee, panchayat leader, Dalits and Adivasis like the social audits under National Campaign on Nutrition for
Dignity led by NACDOR
Addressing systemic issues in monitoring bridging gaps in financing for monitoring visit cost of supervisors.
Nutritional Intake
Customization of nutrition intake depending on the preference. For example egg should be given for children rather than generalizing for some who are
vegetarian and preventing access to easily available eggs.
Report on Madhya Pradesh State Nutrition Convention
National Campaign on Nutrition for Dignity- NACDOR 12
Ensuring delivery of breakfast at ICDS as this was found absent is most of 24
social audits conducted by NACDOR in the 24 panchayats of four districts of Madhya Pradesh
Inclusive Nutrition Delivery Business Model:
Involving Dalits, Adivasis and malnutrition and under nutrition prone
vulnerable communities, there is a need to develop a sustainable business
model for nutrition delivery across the rural and urban areas.
Engagement of marginal Dalit and Adivasis in forming food producer
companies and procurement of nutrition products for ICDS.
Engagement of Nutrition Experts
It is important to engage nutrition experts in the capacity building
programmes organized for all stakeholders in nutrition governance and delivery.
It is important to measure the progress in order to take the corrective action. Monitoring the growth and taking rapid corrective action is most important
ensuring reduction in malnutrition and under-nutrition. Infrastructure:
In order to have dignity for children, best infrastructure should be given for
Anganwadis addressing all the gaps. All incomplete buildings should be completed soon. All the Anganwadis should have well-furnished room in order
to function as Anganwadi and Arogya Kendra as per the existing provision in
Madhya Pradesh.
Building that have not been completed should be completed soon with new
allocation while recovery process should be initiated from the contractors who were contracted to complete the Anganwadi building like the one in
Ansara village of Chataini panchayat in Rewa district. Research and Development:
Support for research and development that contribute in realizing the goal of
malnutrition and hunger free Madhya Pradesh.
Nutrition governance research should be conducted engaging NGOs and
institutions.
Advocacy:
Seamless advocacy by organization for bridging the administrative and policy
gaps identified through social audits.
Regular follow up on the advocacy communications.
Integrating nutrition advocacy in the political processes and communication
of political parties.
Adopting innovative advocacy instruments in order to ensure its
effectiveness. Networking:
Supporting networks on nutrition and campaigns in order to ensure
engagement of Dalit, Adivasi and minority community led CSOs having ensuring effectiveness in eliminating exclusion and discrimination.