NITI Aayog Releases National Nutrition Strategy

TOPIC: GS PAPER IISOCIAL JUSTICE

Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

INTRODUCTION:

Child malnutrition and stunting remains one of the biggest health concerns globally. One in every three children in India is stunted. Protein, iron and vitamin D deficiencies are commonly occurring in people across the globe. With an aim to spread awareness and formulate policies on the state of nutrition in India, the NITI Aayog released the National Nutrition Strategy aimed at bringing nutrition to the core of the National Development Agenda. The strategy lays down a road-map for effective action in achieving nutrition objectives.

STRATEGY FOR NUITRITION ACTION PLAN:

M.S Swaminathan, one of the pioneers in agriculture science, released the strategy document emphasizing the need for a holistic nutrition strategy that would cover the nutritional needs of a person from birth to death. He added that all three types of nutrition deficiencies — under-nutrition, malnutrition and protein hunger — need to be looked at in totality. “Agriculture provides answers to most of the nutrition problems… The challenge is how you marry the two.”

Niti Aayog panel suggests 10-point nutrition action plan

Niti Aayog has drawn up a 10-point nutrition action plan that includes governance reforms in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for “KuposhanMukt Bharat”. 

• The national nutrition strategy, unveiled focuses on governance reforms, convergence of state/district implementation programmes, counseling and community-based monitoring to significantly reduce undernourishment in the country. 
• The aim is ensure that states create customized 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 strategy enables states to make strategic choices through decentralized planning and local innovation, with accountability for nutrition outcomes. 
• It is estimated that with onethird of its children undernourished, India pays an income penalty of 9% to 10% due to a workforce that was stunted during their childhood. 
• To address this and bring nutrition to the centre- stage of the National Development Agenda, the Niti Aayog has drafted the National Nutrition Strategy. Formulated through an extensive consultative process, the strategy lays down a road map for effective action, among both implementers and practitioners, in achieving
  our nutrition objectives. 
• The nutrition strategy envisages a framework under which 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, it noted, there is lack of real-time measurement of these determinants, which “reduces our capacity for targeted action” among the most vulnerable mothers and children. 
• It pointed to supply side challenges often overshadowing the need to address behavioral change efforts to generate demand for nutrition services. 
  CONCLUSION
• This strategy, gives prominence to demand and community mobilization as a key determinant to address India’s nutritional needs. 
• The Nutrition Strategy framework envisages a KuposhanMukt Bharat — linked to Swachh Bharat and Swasth Bharat. The aim is to ensure states create customized State and District Action Plans to address local needs and challenges. 
• This is especially relevant in view of enhanced resources available with states to prioritise focused interventions with a greater role for panchayats and urban local bodies. 
• The strategy enables states to make strategic choices, through decentralized planning and local innovation, with accountability for nutrition outcomes. 

QUESTION ARISING FROM THIS TOPIC:

Q1) What are the objectives of National Nutrition Mission? Recently,Niti Aayog releases Natl Nutrition Strategy linked to Swach Bharat and Swasth Bharat, what are the main purposes of this strategy. Explain.

REFERENCES: BUSSINESS STANDARD, SHILLONG TIMES, ECONOMIC TIMES, 19 Nov