Mahesh Chander Sudan
We, the people of India, are shocked to learn that a large chunk of our population is suffering from malnutrition despite substantial growth of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country. The latest Food and Agriculture (FAO) estimates in The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the world, 2018 report that 19.59 crore people are undernourished in India which is closer to 14.8 percent of the population. It is a very complex situation and is to be dealt very strategically and professionally. It is more worrisome when we look at the data given with respect to children and women especially in reproductive age. One in every four children is said to be undernourished and more than 51 percent women in reproductive age are anemic. Looking at the Global Hunger Index for 2018, we stand 103 out of 119 countries based on three leading indicators applied universally. It does not mean that we are really short of food grains to feed our population on dietary standards of 2500 calories per day as published in few reputed journals like The Lancet. Issue needs to be dealt on socio economic front with bold initiatives.
No doubt, our Governments have started various schemes to target the affected sections of the society and The IndianNational food security Act 2013 has also been enacted to combat the malnutrition but no significant change is noticed. It therefore becomes more crucial to look at the implementation of these schemes and critically analyze the reasons for this. It is also an accepted fact that we Indians have different food habits based on regional differences due to social, economic and climatic conditions and lack of scientific approach towards balanced diet by people in general adds another impediment.
A concerted effort by the Government agencies to educate people at large to understand the importance of dietary need of children, women especially in the reproductive age, young and aged persons may raise them to pay due attention in this regard. Many of the welfare schemes run by governments like mid-day meal for students need to be reassessed in terms of their implementation.
Another very significant issue attached with this is affordability of the masses in general which again invites intervention of Government agencies to raise minimum wages correspondingly to enhance affordability even for the family of a daily laborer. Minimum wages should also be fixed nationally. At present, the structure followed varies from state to state without any logic. This issue requires multipronged approach as it is a multidimensional issue.
We, therefore, are required to adopt inclusive approach where in an effort is to be made through various schemes to raise the purchasing power of the AamAdmi and enable him to avail equal share of National growth.
A large chunk of work force in India is in unorganized sector and to ensure strictly the implementation of Labor acts needs a robust system in place. In the present environment, these acts are hardly implemented and these laborers are exploited. A periodical review of minimum wages should also be carried out nationally to check the inflationary effect. The situation is an alarming bell for us to understand that our children who suffer malnutrition today are going to be the young India of tomorrow who may not be able to cope with world competition, 51 percent women in the reproductive age if left malnourished will not be responsible for birth of mentally impaired future generation of India, hence it is incumbent on the part of present set up of governments both at Centre and states to rise above their party interests and wake up to the national interest and adhere to strict implementation of schemes leading to socio economic upliftment of the people at large. A well-nourished India will bring a balanced socio economic growth and will bloom like a beautiful bunch of colorful flowers with its unity in diversity. God bless my India. Jai Hind Jai Bharat.
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