Union Government on Monday announced Bharatiya Poshan Krishi Kosh which is a repository of diverse crops across 128 agro-climatic zones for better nutritional outcomes. The Kosh aims at reducing malnutrition through a multi-sectoral results-based framework, including agriculture, among women and children across the country.
Speaking at a function in New Delhi, Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Zubin Irani stressed the need for convergence between agriculture and nutrition to address the challenge of malnutrition.
She said the government has done the commendable job to address the challenges of malnutrition, availability of drinking water and sanitation. She said, with a high focus on toilet construction and menstrual hygiene, the government is providing health security to women and children.
Delivering the special address, noted philanthropist and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates said, not only India, but the whole world is facing the challenge of malnutrition. He said, in many cases, deaths of children below five are the result of malnutrition.
Lauding India's efforts to tackle malnutrition, Mr. Gates said, not many countries are talking about addressing this challenge. He said National Nutrition Mission in India has brought new energy needed to eliminate Malnutrition.
Through a video message, Father of Green Revolution in the country, Dr. M S Swaminathan underscored the five-point action plan to make India nutrition secure. The five points include ensuring a calorie-rich diet to women and children, ensuring a high protein diet, eradication of hidden hunger by a deficiency of micronutrients, ensuring clean drinking water supply and spreading nutrition literacy across the country.
Ministry of Women and Child Development has collaborated with Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for this project. The Bharatiya Poshan Krishi Kosh seeks to promote healthy dietary practices and tackle under-nutrition in a sustainable manner.
The initiative will be built on an essential understanding of social, behavioral and cultural practices that promote and reinforce healthy dietary behaviors both at the individual and community level. (AIR NEWS)