Panel calls for boosting protein, and nutrients in government meal programmes

GS Paper-2

Syllabus: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources

Context:

An inter-ministerial committee has recommended that protein-rich food items e.g., Eggs be legally mandated in meals given through food safety programmes in schools and anganwadis under National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013.

Why the need?

Acute undernutrition: The Covid-19 pandemic is likely to have “aggravated the silent crisis” of undernutrition in India.
- National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5) has documented a rise in the “rates of child undernutrition, stunting and wasting in most of the states”, along with an increase in the prevalence of anaemia among pregnant women and those of reproductive age
Currently, states bear the cost of supplementary provisions: E.g. eggs are served in mid-day meals in 13 states and three UTs as part of “additional food items”.

What does the panel say?

Protein-rich food: It recommended including protein-rich food items like eggs, nuts and legumes, as well as micronutrients like calcium, iron, zinc, folate and vitamin A be legally mandated in meals.
- The report states that those who do not consume eggs may be provided “double the proposed quantity of nuts and seeds”.
Call for change in NFSA to include ‘micro-nutrients’: Schedule II of the National Food Security Act lays down nutritional standards for government food safety programmes like mid-day meals, PM Poshan and ICDS. Currently, it quantifies nutrition per meal in terms of calories and protein only, but the inter-ministerial panel has called for micronutrients to also be taken into account.

Integrated Child Development Services Scheme (ICDS) covers children aged six months to six years and pregnant/lactating mothers;

PM Poshan scheme covers: students in lower primary classes, upper primary classes in government and government-aided schools

Other changes recommended in NFSA

Propositions by NITI Aayog: The NITI Aayog has suggested that the national rural and urban coverage ratio be reduced from the existing 75-50 to 60-40, but with more focus on margenalised poor section of society- It will reduce the subsidy bill as well as refocus the scheme to its intended beneficiary.
- As for the prices, the existing arrangement of flat rates should be replaced with a slab system.
Expansion of food basket: The PDS should be strengthened and the food basket can be enlarged to include millets, pulses and oil. This may certainly help in addressing the issue of hidden hunger
Pay attention to the life cycle approach advocated in the NFSA, particularly the first thousand days in a child’s life when the cognitive abilities of the child are shaped.
Full implementation of One Nation One Ration Card (RC) will ensure all beneficiaries especially migrants can access PDS across the nation from any PDS shop of their own choice.
Inclusion of Disability as criteria under NFSA: The Section 38 of the NFSA mandates that the Central Government may from time to time give directions to the State Governments for effective implementation of the provisions of the Act.
Expand the coverage of Integrated Management of PDS (IMPDS) to all the states.