Revisit the food policy for healthy India

Abstract

The new government assumed office at the Centre. Many policies are expected to be reviewed and many will be formulated. An important policy initiative of last year, Food Security Bill (FSB) may need reconsideration because non-availability of food probably is not a universal problem in India but far more significant is malnutrition on which government needs to focus.

In fact, malnutrition and under nourishment are maladies that reduce the economic potential of not only individuals but also countries. According to conservative estimates, based on research, malnutrition can cost countries an average of 6% of their GDP. The World Bank estimates that if proper preventive measures are taken in 36 countries, including India, with high burden of undernutrition, the impact would be signifi- cantly positive. There are 50% more children with inadequate nutrition compared to adults. Proper preventive measures could result in 30 million fewer stunted children and preventing child mortality of 1.1 million, thereby reducing prevalence of acute malnutrition by nearly half. Read more at: https://www.nuffoodsspectrum.in/column/49/955/revisit-the-food-policy-for-healthy-india.html