Moderator: Dr. Ranjan Solanki - Dr. Prashant Ghodam Nutrition
Security in India
Slide 2
Framework Introduction Magnitude of problem Dimensions of food
& Nutritional Security Nutrition-related public health problems
Nutritional status in India Assessing Food and Nutrition Security
Initiatives to improve nutritional status Success stories
Challenges References
Slide 3
Introduction In India there has been substantial reduction in
moderate and severe undernutrition in children and some improvement
in nutritional status of all segments of population. These
improvements resulted due to improvement of dietary intake,
improved health care and ongoing developmental process, there is
still milder form of chronic energy deficiency and micronutrient
deficiencies widely prevalent in adults and children. Every man,
woman and child has the inalienable right to be free from hunger
and malnutrition in order to develop fully and maintain their
physical and mental faculties.
Slide 4
Introduction Nutrition security- "Every individual has the
physical, economic & environmental access to balanced diet that
includes the necessary macro and micro nutrients and safe drinking
water, sanitation, environmental hygiene, primary health care &
education so as to lead a healthy and productive life". (Science
Academies Summit 1996/ 2009 ). Food security- Food security exists
when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to
sufficient, safe & nutritious food for a healthy and active
life. (World Food Summit, 1996) Education and awareness are needed
to utilise these services.
Slide 5
Magnitude of problem The latest FAO estimates indicate that
global hunger reduction continues: about 805 million people are
estimated to be chronically undernourished in 201214, down more
than 100 million over the last decade, and 209 million lower than
in 199092. In the same period, the prevalence of undernourishment
has fallen from 18.7 to 11.3 percent globally and from 23.4 to 13.5
percent for developing countries.
Slide 6
Magnitude of problem
Slide 7
India has made some progress in reducing poverty level, but
still ranks behind neighbouring Nepal and Sri Lanka on the Global
Hunger Index and its hunger status remains classified as "serious".
India was at 63rd position in the global hunger index (GHI) last
year. The 55th (out of 76 countries) position in 2014 is better
than Pakistan (ranked 57) and Bangladesh (57), but trails behind
Nepal (44) and Sri Lanka (39).
Slide 8
Dimensions of food & Nutritional Security Availability
(food supplies): physical existence of food, be it from own
production (household level) or from markets (regional or national
level). Access- sufficient resources to obtain appropriate foods
for a nutritious diet. It is dependent on the level of household
resourcescapital, labor, and knowledge and on prices. Utilization-
Utilization has a socio-economic and biological aspect. If
sufficient and nutritious food is both available and accessible: o
socio-economic- households make decisions/choices on what food to
consume (demand) and how the food is allocated within the household
Unequal distribution leads to suffering from food deficiency; the
same is true if the composition of the consumed food is
unbalanced;
Slide 9
Dimensions conti o biological utilization of food Focused at
the individual level food security, which refers to the ability of
the human body to take food and translate it into either energy
that is used to undertake daily activities or is stored. Stability
(sustainability): temporal dimension of nutrition security. Chronic
food insecurity- the inability to meet food needs on an ongoing
basis transitory food insecurity- the inability to meet food needs
on a temporary basis. e.g. droughts or floods, civil conflict.
Slide 10
Nutrition-related public health problems Chronic energy
deficiency and undernutrition Micro-nutrient deficiencies Anaemia
Vitamin A deficiency Iodine Deficiency Disorders Chronic energy
excess and obesity
Slide 11
Nutritional status in India
Slide 12
Slide 13
Slide 14
Slide 15
Nutritional status in Maharashtra
Slide 16
Assessing Food and Nutrition Security Clinical examinations
Laboratory methods Anthropometry: The weight-for-height:- Wasting.
The height-for-age :- Stunting. Therefore it is used as a good
indicator for poverty in general. The weight-for-age :-
Underweight. Mid-upper-arm-circumference (MUAC):-acute
malnutrition. Should be >13.5 cm Body-Mass-Index (BMI).
Slide 17
Initiatives to improve nutritional status Increasing food
production Improving food distribution Food supplementation
Nutrition education Prevention and treatment of undernutrition
& micronutrient deficiencies and their health consequences
Slide 18
Initiatives to improve nutritional status Increasing food
production :- NFSM (October 2007). During 12th FYP with new targets
of additional production of food grains of 25 million tons of food
grains comprising of 10 million tons rice, 8 million tons of wheat,
4 million tons of pulses and 3 million tons of coarse cereals.
Slide 19
Initiatives conti.. Improving food distribution- Public
Distribution System (PDS):- It is a government- sponsored chain of
shops entrusted with the work of distributing basic food and
non-food commodities to the needy sections of the society at very
cheap prices. The Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) In
1997, Provides 35 kgs per month of subsidised food grains at half
the cost of the economic price to all families identified as living
below the poverty line (BPL families). Antodaya Anna Yojana: (
2000) food-based assistance to destitute households. special grain
quotas at highly subsidised prices provides 35 kgs of rice per
month at Rs. 3/- per kilo or 35 kgs of wheat per month at Rs. 2/-
per kg. This is to around 40% of the poorest of poor families.
Slide 20
Initiatives conti.. Food supplementation :- to address special
needs of the vulnerable groups-Integrated Child Development
Services (ICDS) was initiated in 1975. Children up to 6 years
should be provided 300 calories and 8-10 grams of protein;
adolescent girls 500 calories and 20- 25 grams of protein per day
and pregnant and nursing mothers 500 calories and 20-25 grams of
protein per day. Undernourished children are entitled to double the
daily supplement provided to the other children (600 calories
and/or special nutrients on medical recommendation).
Slide 21
Initiatives conti.. Nutritional Support To Primary Education
(popularly known as the Mid-day Meal Scheme): Nutritional Support
to Primary Education was launched in 1995 as a 100 per cent
centrally funded, Centrally Sponsored Scheme. Under this scheme,
all school children in the primary schools in government and
government aided schools are to be covered Cooked meals with a
minimum content of 450 calories and 12 grams of protein are to be
provided on each working day of the school. The Mid-day Meal Scheme
has recently been expanded to cover children in upper primary
schools too. Nutrition education especially through Food and
Nutrition Board (FNB) and ICDS
Slide 22
Initiatives conti.. The National Anaemia Prophylaxis Programme
: - was initiated in 1972 The National Iodine Deficiency Disorders
Control Programme :- 1998 making it mandatory for all manufacturers
of edible salt to iodise their product. National Prophylaxis
Programme Against Nutritional Blindness :- In 1970
Slide 23
Success stories
Slide 24
Chhattisgarh vs India
Slide 25
Slide 26
Slide 27
Slide 28
Slide 29
Challenges Starvation deaths & farmers suicides Stagnant
agricultural production, and falling food availability Unemployment
Regional disparities Low levels of household income High and rising
retail price of food Problem mainly for poor households Anemia in
Women and malnutrition in children's
Slide 30
References 1. National food security mission, Ministry of
Agriculture, Government of India. 2. FAO, IFAD and WFP. 2014,The
State of Food Insecurity in the World. Available from:
http://www.fao.org/3/a-i4030e.pdf http://www.fao.org/3/a-i4030e.pdf
3. Planning commission. Chapter 3.3. Food and nutrition security.
Tenth five year plan 2002-07. Available from:
http://planningcommission.nic.in/plans/planrel/fiveyr/10th/volume2/v2_ch3_3.pdf.
http://planningcommission.nic.in/plans/planrel/fiveyr/10th/volume2/v2_ch3_3.pdf
4. Department of Food and Public Distribution.
http://www.insaindia.org/pdf/Nutrition_Security_for_India_Issues_and_Way_Forward.pdf
http://www.insaindia.org/pdf/Nutrition_Security_for_India_Issues_and_Way_Forward.pdf
5. National nutrition monitoring bureau. National institute of
nutrition. Indian Council of Medical Research. Hyderabad 2006.
Available from:
http://nnmbindia.org/NNMB/Special_Report_on_Elderly&_Adolescents%20Diet_&_
Nutritional_St.pdf
http://nnmbindia.org/NNMB/Special_Report_on_Elderly&_Adolescents%20Diet_&_
Nutritional_St.pdf 6. UNICEF, State of World Children 2012.
Available from: http:// www.unicef.org/sowc2012/http://
www.unicef.org/sowc2012/ 7. Department of Women and Child
Development. Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS).
Available from: www.wcd.in/icds.htmwww.wcd.in/icds.htm 8.
Ramachandran P, Gopala HS. Assessment of nutritional status in
Indian preschool children using WHO 2006 Growth Standards. Indian J
Med Res. 2011;134:511.