Calls for renewed focus on nutrition
NITI Aayog has drafted the National Nutrition Strategy. Formulated through an extensive consultative process, the strategy lays down a roadmap for effective action, among both implementers and practitioners, in achieving our nutrition objectives. Leader of the Green Revolution, Dr MS Swaminathan and Dr H Sudarshan, launched the National Nutrition Strategy, along with Vice Chairman Dr Rajiv Kumar and Member Dr Vinod Paul.
The nutrition strategy envisages a framework wherein 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, there is also a lack of real time measurement of these determinants, which reduces our capacity for targeted action among the most vulnerable mothers and children.
Supply side challenges often overshadow the need to address behavioural change efforts to generate demand for nutrition services. This strategy, therefore, gives prominence to demand and community mobilisation as a key determinant to address India’s nutritional needs.
The nutrition strategy framework envisages a Kuposhan Mukt Bharat – linked to Swachh Bharat and Swasth Bharat. The aim is to ensure that states create customised 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 focussed interventions with a greater role for panchayats and urban local bodies.
The strategy enables states to make strategic choices, through decentralised planning and local innovation, with accountability for nutrition outcomes.
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