Counting Nutritional Deficiency Among the Poor
Kartavya Desk Staff
Syllabus: Social Justice: Poverty and Hunger Issues
Source: TH
Context: The Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (2022-23) has highlighted significant nutritional deficiencies among India’s poor.
Key Findings of the Report
• Expenditure Thresholds: Rural India needs ₹2,197 (₹1,569 for food, ₹628 for non-food); Urban India needs ₹3,077 (₹2,098 for food, ₹979 for non-food) for adequate nourishment.
• The proportion of Poor: 17.1% in rural and 14% in urban areas are considered poor.
• Thresholds for Poorest 10%: Increase to ₹2,395 for rural and ₹3,416 for urban, raising deprivation to 23.2% (rural) and 19.4% (urban).
• Calorie Intake: The poorest 5% consume 1,564 kcal (rural) and 1,607 kcal (urban), below the required 2,172 kcal (rural) and 2,135 kcal (urban).
What is Nutritional Security?
Nutritional security ensures access to adequate, safe, and nutritious food for a healthy life, focusing on both the quality and quantity of food.
Why is it Necessary?
• Holistic Health: Goes beyond calorie intake to ensure a balanced nutrient supply.
• Economic Impact: Improves productivity and reduces healthcare costs, with micronutrient deficiencies costing 0.8%-2.5% of GDP.
• Cognitive Development: Enhances IQ and educational outcomes, breaking poverty cycles.
• Disease Resilience: Strengthens immune response, reducing healthcare burdens.
• Biodiversity: Promotes dietary diversity and supports agricultural biodiversity.
Key Challenges in Handling Nutrition in India
• Economic Inequality: 74% can’t afford a healthy diet.
• Inadequate Dietary Intake: Shift to low-quality, processed foods lacking essential nutrients.
• Poor Sanitation: Only 69% use improved sanitation facilities.
• Lack of Health Infrastructure: Low doctor (0.73) and nurse (1.74) density per 1000 people.
• Delayed/Inconsistent Delivery: Only 50.3% of children receive Anganwadi services.
• Inadequate Monitoring: Poor assessment of program effectiveness.
Other reasons:
• Green Revolution: Focus on staple crops has led to micronutrient deficiencies.
• Climate Change: Affects crop yields and increases food prices.
• Knowledge Gap: Low nutritional literacy impacts dietary choices.
• Urbanization: Leads to food deserts and unhealthy lifestyles.
• Policy Implementation: Inefficiencies and underutilization of funds hinder progress.
• Food Safety: Issues like adulteration and contamination reduce food quality.
• Food Loss: Significant waste and poor storage raise food prices.
Initiatives taken by India:
Initiative | Description
Mission Poshan 2.0 | Focuses on improving maternal nutrition and child feeding norms, integrating multiple schemes.
Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme | Provides food, preschool education, and primary healthcare to children under 6 and their mothers.
Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) | Offers financial incentives to pregnant and lactating mothers for health and nutrition.
Mid-Day Meal Scheme (PM Poshan) | Supplies nutritious meals to school children; introduces millets to enhance dietary diversity.
Scheme for Adolescent Girls (SAG) | Aims to improve the nutritional and health status of adolescent girls.
Mother’s Absolute Affection (MAA) | Promotes breastfeeding to improve child health and nutrition.
Poshan Vatikas | Establishes nutrition gardens to provide locally grown nutritious food for children and mothers.
Recommendations of the Child Nutrition Report 2024:
• Enhance data systems to assess Child Food Poverty severity.
• Reform food systems to make nutritious foods accessible, affordable, and desirable.
• Utilize health systems for essential nutrition services, including child feeding counselling.
• Transform food, health, and social protection systems for children.
What more needs to be done:
• SBCC Plan:Develop a targeted Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) plan.
• Local Foods: Promote consumption of nutritious, locally available foods.
• Communication: Use local languages and various channels (radio, videos, outreach).
• Nutrition-Integrated Welfare: Expand programs like PDS to include diverse, nutrient-rich foods and introduce nutrition education.
• Nutrition Coupons: Provide customized food coupons for malnourished families to buy nutrient-rich foods.
• School Nutrition Hubs: Revamp Mid-Day Meals with balanced diets, school gardens, and health check-ups.
• Nutri-Preneur Program: Support businesses focusing on nutrition with funding and mentorship.
• Nutrition Surveillance: Set up a system for real-time nutritional data and emergency responses.
• Nutri-Smart Agriculture: Promote diverse, nutrient-rich crops with incentives for farmers.
• Community Champions: Train local volunteers to educate and counsel on nutrition.
Insta Links:
• Acute malnutrition risking 30 million children’s lives
Mains Link:
How far do you agree with the view that the focus on lack of availability of food as the main cause of hunger takes the attention away from ineffective human development policies in India? (UPSC 2018)
Prelims Link:
Which of the following is/are the indicators/ indicators used by IFPRI to compute the Global Hunger Index Report? (UPSC 2016)
• Undernourishment
• Child stunting
• Child mortality
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) 1 and 3 only
Ans: C