By TIOL News Service

NEW DELHI, MAY 12, 2013: ACCORDING to the Working Group on Nutrition set up by the Planning Commission and headed by the Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development, 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, proposing an overall allocation of Rs 10,175 crore for nutrition in the 12th Plan period (2012-17). At present 70 per cent children (6-35 months), 56.2 per cent women and 56 per cent adolescent girls are anemic in the country.

A report 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.

The report suggested inclusion of nutrition in the Food Security Bill which is pending, suggesting it to be as highest priority to the challenge of under nutrition. Once the Bill is passed, people could be educated to use their savings from subsidized food grains to buy legumes and vegetables. Besides it also suggested inclusion of edible oils, pulses and cooking fuel in the list of subsidized 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 is 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.