Tackling malnutrition: Unlocking community potential

Archana Sinha, Co- Founder & CEO, Nourishing schools Foundation stresses that the lack of adequate nutrition beginning from prenatal development till adolescence among different socio-economic groups contributes to an exhausting cycle of a weak immune system, fatigue, poor growth, and poor concentration, which could be further worsened by ailments like heart diseases, diabetes, or certain cancers. Consistent collective efforts over the past couple of decades have significantly reduced the infant mortality rate. However, India still lags in several aspects of socio-economic development

India’s ongoing battle with malnutrition

Malnutrition in children is a significant challenge that India faces and has been facing for decades. The issue affects over 43 lakh children in the country, leading to numerous chronic health issues and thereby, adversely affecting the overall health of the nation. Further, every second Indian adolescent is either too short or too thin or overweight/obese¹. The lack of adequate nutrition beginning from prenatal development till adolescence among different socio-economic groups contributes to an exhausting cycle of a weak immune system, fatigue, poor growth, and poor concentration², which could be further worsened by ailments like heart diseases, diabetes, or certain cancers³. Consistent collective efforts over the past couple of decades have significantly reduced the infant mortality rate. However, India still lags in several aspects of socio-economic development.

Why is nutrition important?

Nutrition is an integral part of a child’s well-being, contributing vastly to their development. Lack of minerals like iron and vitamins B-12 and folate could result in the occurrence of nutrition-related anaemia, a condition where the body produces lower red blood cells which further reduces the body’s ability to carry oxygen.⁴ Anaemia is significantly prevalent in India; the National Family Health Survey -5 (2019-2021) found that 57 per cent of women aged 15-49 years were anaemic.

For a country to ensure the elimination of malnutrition, it is imperative to address the structural gaps in the nutrition domain to improve health of children and adults alike, thereby promoting a healthier society.

A crooked road towards nutrition

Although governments at all levels and NGOs are determined to tackle malnutrition, poverty, and hunger in the country, the private sector also plays a vital role in setting the tone for a better future by contributing significantly through Corporate Social Responsibility. The Companies Act of 2013 requires companies over a certain financial threshold to mandatorily invest in philanthropic activities as a part of Corporate Social Responsibility, enabling the private sector to be an instrumental part of society.

CSR remains one of the most overlooked financial resources, which, if employed correctly could significantly accelerate India’s war against malnutrition. According to the National CSR report published by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India, over 20,800 companies in the country contributed over Rs 26,000 crores on CSR activities during FY2021-22⁵, out of which over Rs.1,873 crores⁶ were invested towards the eradication of poverty, hunger, and malnutrition—indicating only 7 per cent of the total contribution.

Although some of the most significant contributors of CSR effectively aim to eradicate malnutrition and hunger in collaboration with various NGOs and the government, there remains a drastic gap in the efforts required to solve malnutrition.

What can be done?

While the central government undoubtedly works towards promoting nutrition and raising awareness about the hazards of malnutrition, the corporate sector can play a pivotal role in accelerating the war against malnutrition and diseases, which could guarantee a healthier potential workforce.

Acknowledging the broad-based challenge of malnutrition, The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD), with technical guidance from The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), can jointly work on engaging with the industry in an active manner to encourage funding towards malnutrition. To begin with, a working group can be constituted to study structural challenges which may be leading to lower prioritisation of funding towards malnutrition.

Access to information and data which can ease decision-making can also play a key role, where state governments can collaborate with the Central Government in creating a centralised portal on malnutrition which consolidates data on malnutrition profile, along with recommendations of broad areas in which corporates can intervene and listing of non-government organisations working in those specific domains along with their impact data. This can build on the efforts already being made by the Central Government through the Poshan Tracker to encourage dynamic identification of undernourished children and last-mile tracking of nutrition service delivery.

Malnutrition remains a stumbling rock in India’s efforts to achieve true prosperity. Despite extraordinary accomplishments in the economic sector, it is crucial to realise that no nation can achieve true success until its people are healthy. To eradicate malnutrition and ensure food security for its citizens— albeit a long road ahead—a committed endeavour from various stakeholders is a must for minimising the fundamental problems and paving the way for a better, healthier future.