Ground-level approach necessary for treating malnutrition

NEW DELHI - India’s apex planning body, the Planning Commission, is interacting with and getting suggestions from the ground-level health workers and is incorporating these in policies to tackle malnutrition in the country.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a symposium, Arun Maira, member of the Planning Commission, said: “We are approaching the ground-level workers like the anganwadi and asha workers of each district in panchayat level to discuss the ground-level issues of malnutrition and we are trying to incorporate their suggestions in the already existing policies.”

Maira also felt that this step by the Planning Commission is an effective exercise to eradicate malnutrition, as they get first-hand information from the grassroots level.

“Their suggestions can be taken in the existing policies or in a new policy according to the requirement. The problem of malnutrition should be tackled as it is not just a problem but a ‘national shame’ as referred by the Prime Minister,” he added.

Maira also felt that declaring food security as a right will not solve the problem. He said: “We will have to deliver it to the people and the Planning Commission will have to focus on implementation.”

The second symposium on “India’s Malnutrition: Combating the Hard Core” by Britannia Nutrition Foundation (BNF), organised on the eve of National Nutrition week Wednesday had several eminent speakers and nutrition experts who discussed about the complexity of malnourishment in India.