NATIONAL NUTRITION POLICY

~II<t<1"IIiI

1993
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
DEPARTMENT OF WOMEN & CHILD DEVELOPMENT
MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
NEW DELm
 CONTENTS

PAGE No.
I. Introduction
1

II. Need for a Nutrition Policy within the Development context 1-2
Ill. The Nutrition Status of India. . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5

IV. The Existing Policy Instruments for combating Malnutrition. . . . . . 5

V. Nutrition Policy Instruments. 6-10

VI. Administration and Monitoring. 10-12

INTERVENTION PROGRAMMES TO COMBAT MALUNTRITION 13-25

 NATIONAL NUTRITION POLICY

I. Introduction

Widespread poverty resulting in chronic and persistent hunger is the single biggest scourge of
the developing world today. The physical expression of this continuously re-enacted tragedy is the
condition of under-nutrition which manifests itself among large sections of the poor, particularly
amongst the women and children. Under nutrition is a con4ition resulting from inadequate intake of
food or more essential nutrient(s) resulting in deterioration of physical gT9wth and health. The
inadequacy is relative to the food & nutrients needed to maintain good health, provide for growth
and allow a choice of physical activity levels, including work levels, that are socially necessary. This
'condition of under-nutrition, therefore, reduces work capacity and productivity amongst adults and
enhances mortality and morbidity amongst children. Such reduced productivity translates into
reduced earning capacity, leading to further poverty, ,and the vicious cycle goes on (figure 1 below).

The vicious cycle of Poverty

Poverty

Low intake of
food " Nutrients
r
Impelred
Prod8dIftty
1

\
SiDaII. Body
Undemutrltion
Repeated Insults from Nutrition
size f1I Adults , related diseases " lDfedions
:/
Stunted Dev. of CbUdrea
" Growth faltering Figure 1
The nutritional status of a ropulation i$ therefore critical to the development-and well being of
, a nation.

D. Need for . Nutrilloa Polky within &beDevelopmtDtContext:,

The need for a National Nutrition Policy is implicit in both the paramountcy of nutrition in
development as well as in tbe complexity of the problem. This general problem of under-nutrition
should be ICen as a part of a larger set of processes that produces and consumes agricultural
commodities on farms, trans(orms them into food in the marketing sector and sells the food, to
customen to satisfy nutritional, aes:hetic and social needs. Within this set, there are three sub-sets
1
.....----

of issues, within the broad sectors of agriculture, food and nutrition, with various linkages among
them. In fact, the third subset, viz. Nutrition, is the net- result of the other two su\:)sets(figure 2
below).

Politics
'Urban
Rural
Intermediate

a-n. L
Land Mark~t Prices

Labour

Water
Subsistence Fanning Direct

Consumption

Feedina

T edIIIoIau

Environment
Biological Changing tastes
Chemical Groups
MedwIical
Figure 2
i Crop Choice

It is both possible as well as necessary to devise policy interventions for influencing the working
of these sets and thereby improving the nutritional status of the society. The nature of linkages
determine the fate of such interventions. The diagram above gives the various linkages of these three
sub-systems,determining the nutrition status of a society, and it underscores the complex and multi-
dimensional nature of the problem of nutrition. For instance, post independence India has a proud
record of achievement in food production. From being a deficit nation, depending on food imports in
the sixties, to having become surplus in foodgrains in the eighties, is a saga of concerted agricultural
research, extension work and development, resulting in a dramatic productivity increase. And yet,
from all accounts, endemic malnutrition and ill health resulting from malnutrition continue to stalk
the country. It IS this stark reality that underscot;esthe need for a nutrition policy. Increased food
production does not by itself necessarilyensure nutrition for all. According to, the 1978-88 round of
NSS, nearly 29.2% of India's population..isestimated to be below the defined poY~rtyline. While, at
the matro-Ievel, this group constitutes the nutritionally at risk population, eyen within this,group the
women arid the children represent nutritionally the most fragile and vulnerable sections. This is the
result of intra-household gender discrimination, which perpetuates the age old inequities. All this
emphasise the complexity of the problem and the need for tackling the Nutrition Policy consciously
and at several levels siml1ltaneously.Mere economic development, or even the adequacy of food at
household levels, are no gurantees for a stable and satisfactory nutritional status. At the same time,
however, the overall development strategy of a country is likely to have a pronounced beal"ingon
what nutritional planning can accomplish.Therefore, the task is not merely in terms of formulating a
nutrition policy but also in terms of locating and grounding it in the overall development strategy of
the country. Nutrition has to be tackled independently, alongwith other development issues. This is
not all. The time dimension is also important. A Policy having a mere long term effect, even if
bepeficiatfor the nutritionally at risk population, would not suffice. After all, this group has too little
 3

to live on in the long run and has too much to die of in the short run. Therefore. both short as w.cll
as long term strategies, arc called for. comprising bOth direct as well as indirect interventions,
III. The Nutrition Status of IRdia:

(A) The Aggregate Position Regardillg'lntake:

(1) Calorie & Protein Intake:-There has been a steady increase in aggregate consumption of
caloriesat household level (Table 2). During 1957-79, in urbanareas,the aggregate intake levels of
protein were above the ICMR recommended level for all income groups except slum dwellers, Eve-n
in rural area's. between 1975and 1989,aggregate consumptionlevels of all groups taken together were
1tigher than the recommended levels.In fact, time trends showthat the average intake of calories a1
the lowest income group had a definite increasing trend during the seventies (Graph 1).
However, there has not been a commensurate increase in consumption of proteins and protected
.foods like fats and oils (Table 1). Dietary patterns have also remained largely unchanged despite'
increase in calorie consumption. rhe bulk of calorie intake increase is ascribed to the intake of
cereals. Some disaggregate data" regarding rural areas show the" vulnerability of the landless
agricultural labour "famili.esevenaslate as in 1979when the Green Revolu:tion was well under way.
qrought years have.witnessed marginal decreases in the aggregate consumption of proteins and high
energy foods (Table n.
(2) Mlcr~nutrient Intake:-During 1975-79,in urban areas. aggregate.intake levels of Iron were
above the ICMR rccommendeo levels for all groups. For Vitamin "Au. however. deficiencies existed
among all .groups except the High IncomeGroups.
(B) The Dis-aggregated Picture
Although, the NNMB reports regarding average household food consumption levels do not point
to any significant intake'shortfall except for Vito "An, these average figures actually mask the real
picture. According to a NNMB-NSSO Survey, even at an aggregate level in terms of monthly
household income. around 34% of household earn considerably less than the >verage food
expenditure of the sampled families .(Figure 3: NNMB 1983-84 below:)
Figure 3. NNMB-NSSO Survey Data
---
NNMB"NSSO Survey Report. Rs. 73-80
'Average' per caput food expenditurelmensem '60%-70% of total Expenditure)
NNMB Survey (1988).. <Rs.60
HQusenold pet caputlmc.nsem (in 34% of households)

Source:-.NNMB (1983-84)-p.6 .
**NNMB Interim Report of Repeat Survey (1988-89)

Thus, even though_\here has been a drop in the population below poverty linc;since 1960(from
56.8% to 29.2% in 1987-88)in terms of numbers, a staggering250 million people suffer from varying
degrees of malnutrition in India. There is, however, no doub~that the impressive gains of the Green
Revolution in terms o! national food security a~d effective early warning systems have eradicated
famines and situations of extreme hunger and starvation. What still remain are different degrees of
chronic and endemic hunger which, in the coli~extof prevailing patterns .of intra-household food
distribution particularly in rural families, translate into a grave danger for the nutrition status of
women and children. ThtCiis. the crux of the nutrition situation in India.
The major nutrition problems of Indi.. can be classified as follows:-
(1) Under-nutrition resulting in:
(a) Protein Energy Malnutrition (PEM);
 4

(b) Iron deficie ncy;

(c) Iodine defic,iency
fd) Vito "~" deficiency.
(II:) Low Birth Weight Q'Iildren;
(2) Seasonal dimensions of Nutrition;
(3) Natu ral calamities & the landless.
(4) Markt:t Distortion ~nd Disinformation;
(5) urbanisation.
(6) Special Nutritional PlrOblems of Hill People, Industrial Workers, Migrant
Work,ers, and other sI.ecial c3ltegories;
(7) Problems of Overn utrition, overweight and I')besity for a small section of urban population.
For India and much of thie Third World Inutrition status is characterised by varying degrees of
undernutrition for women ,and children.
(1) (a) PEM: Protein E;nergy Malnutrition is the most widespread form of malnutrition among
pre-school children of our country. A majority of them suffer from varying grades of
malnutrition. An many as 43.8* per cent children suffer from moderate degrees of PEM
and 8.7* per ce,nt suffer from severe extreme forms of maloutrition. The prevalence of
malnutrition in (:hildren as reported in various survey reports is given in Table 4. Surveys
conducted be*9Viaen1975 a~d 1990 indicated that the percentage of normal children (for
both the sexes pooled) has increased from 5.9% to 9.9% while the moderate form of
malnutrition dedined from 47.5% to 43.8%. The percentage of severely malnourished
children declined from 15% to 8.7% (Table 4). The child population of urban slums had
the lowest proportion of children with normal body weight and recorded the highest
proportion of se:verely malnourished children (Table 4). Between 1975 and 1990, increase
in the percental~e of normal children was appreciable in all the States, except Karnataka
and Orissa, where the increase was marginal as spown in Table 4,. The percentage of
severely malnourished children in the States of Oujarat and Madhya PMdesh failed to
show any marked upward trend.
. NNMB, NIN (Table 4)
(b) Iron Deficiency: Nutritional Anaemia: Nutritional anaemia among the pre-school children
and expectant and nursing mothers is one of the major preventable health problems in
India. It has been estimated in various studies particularly those conducted by NIN that
roughly 56 per cent pre-school children and almost 50 per cent of the expectant mothers
in the third trimester of pregnancy suffer from iron deficiency, whi!=his basically due to
inadequate or poor absorption of iron from a predominantly cereal-based diet. Low iron
intake, coupled with hookworm infestation and infections, further aggravates the
problem. According to NNMB Report of repeat surveys (1989-90), between 1975 and
1990, a marginal decline of 1.8 mglcu was observed in the mean Iron intake at an over
all level. During 1989-90, the intakes were above the RDI levels in only Karnptaka,
Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.
(c) Iodine Deficiency Disorder
In India, ne;nly' 40 million persons are, estimated to be suffering from goitre and 145
million are living in the known goitre endemic regions. The prevalence of goitre in these
endemic regions ranges from 1.5 per cent in Assam (Cachar Distt.) to 68.6% in
Mizoram. It is also estimated that 2.2 million children are afflicted with cretinism and
about 6.6 million are mildly retarded and suffer from varied degrees of motor handicaps.
It is estimated that iodine deficiency also accounts for 90,000 still births and neo-natal
deaths every year.
 5

(d) Vitamin 'At Dencency: Nutritional blindness which affe. its over seve.n million children in
India per year results mainly "from the deficiency of "'itamin A. coupled with protein
energy malnutrition. In its severest form, it often result~ nn loss of vision and it has been
estimated that around 60,000 children become blind ~\very year (Source: NIPCCD :
Situational Analysis of Children: March 1989 : p42). Vir Imin A defic:iency is as:sessed on
the basis of conjuctival xerosis and Bitot's spot. A stue y Df NNMB bas illdic8Ited that,
while there were no manifestations of Vitamin A defll ~ency in infants. its prevalence
increased with age (Table 5). Further, a higher prev-Sence was :.een in school age
children in all the income groups. In the urban areas it was the hlighest among slum
children (7.8%), followed by industrial. labour (6.3%), it Ie midole income group (4.7%)
and the low income group (4.1 %). According to NNM1' (1990). in none of the States
was the average intake comparable to the recommend.:d Icv~1.
(e) Prevalence of Low Birth Weight Children: The prevalena of low binlH weight children is
still unacceptably high for India. The nutritional status of 'infants is closcty related to the
mat~rnal nutritional status during pregnancy and infan cy. In India .30% of all the
infants born are low birth weight babies (Weight less thaI 2500 ~ms.) andtb'is pattern is
almost constant since 1979. An ICMR study reported that the avc~ragc ibirth weight
ranged between 2.5 and 2 kg. and the prevalence of low birth weight nmgcdbetween 26
and 57 per cent in the urban slums and 35 to 41 per cent ill the rural communities. This
is a matter of concern since 90 per cent of the deaths 0 :cur among ir.lf.antswith birth
weight below 2000 gms. Low birth weight was found! 0 be connect:d w:iLb~veral
factors. such. as age of the mother. maternal weight. w ~ight gain duling pr~gnancy.
interpregnancy interval. haemoglobin less than 8 gms. pel <;:entand matcm!IJ ,illiteracy.
Keeping in view the fact that birth weight is the most ir 1portant determinant Qf child
survival and that the maternal nutritional status is the mos!' decisive factor in Pfe~nting
low birth weight. the National Health Policy has set a goal of bringiHg daw». the
incidence of low birth weight by 10 per cent and the pf(,~sent .maternal m\'Jrtality rate
from existing rate of 4 per 1000 to 2 per 1000 live births b)' 2000 A.D. It w~\s found by
the NNMB in 1989 that. in the State of Karnataka. consunnption of energy by ~D.men
was the highest ie. 2992k calories, as compared to that of other States viz. Wt~st ~gal
(2580k calories) and Orissa (2468k Calories). In the rest of the States. the ColY!iWDption
of calories was .Iess than the recommende~ 2400k calorie~i.
Women face high risks of malnutrition an'd disease at all t he three critical stag'es. ~-
infancy'and childhood, adolescence and reproductive phase. Child mortality ratefigute$
show high rates for female children than their male coumcrparts (Table 6).T'his is
perhaps indicative of social prejudices leading to neglect" f female babies.
When girls attain ado.lescence, they go through a second spurt of growth and I'heir
bodies grow much more rapidly to prepare them for child bt:aring. But. unfortunat,ely,
the intake of nutrients during this period is significantly low', the calories and prot tin
gaps ranging from 300-400 calories and 2-22 gms. of protein respectively. Table 7 gi' 'es
the energy and protein intakes of males and femal,cs of different age groups. It is sc:n
that the daily intake of Vito "A" by all age groups, including child. adolescent and adu.lt
population, is very much lower than the recommended level. The intake of iron is 'also
lower than the rer.ommended level in children of all age gjroups. adolescent girls and\
adult women.
(2) Seasonal Dimensions:- In the duality of the Indian situation. where high-yielding
modern agriculture co-exists with rain-fed subsisten,ce farming. there are serious seasonal
dimensions of the nutrition question. In large pans of Jndi,a. the rainy months are the
worst months for the rural, landless poor. This is winen cultivation. deweeding.
ploughing and other works demand maximum en'crgy from them. while food stoe}.s at
home dwindle and market prices rise. These are: again the months when water-borne
:ctiseases are so frequent. This condition goes 01'1aggravating till late October Of even
 6

November. These are the months of rural indebtedness and compulsive market
involvement of the landless and the small/marginal cultivators. When the first kharif
harvest arrives. the situation is no better with widespread distress sales by the small/
marginal farmers. AU these make nutrition a casualty during this period. Seasonality of
employment in subsistence agriculture affects nutrition through the double jeopardy of
high energy demand of peak work seasons and fluctuation in household level food
availability, which tend to exacerbate differential food intake among men. women aod
children. As a result. in very poor household~. women & children may actually faU
below the survival line during lean periods.

(3) Natural calamities It Nutrition:- This san/e group of rural landless poor is most
vulnerable to droughts. floods and famines; A.s has been established in famine periods,
worst affected groups arc the landless agr1cultural labourers, artisans, craftsmen and
non-agricultural labourers in that order.

(4) Market Distortion & Disinformation:- A striking feature which has now been
established is that famines arc caused not so much by any real decline in food
availability as by a sudden erosIOn of purchasing power of these marginal groups who
compulsively depend on the market (landless labourers etc.). '. In fact lessons from all
over the world have proved that it is ~ot any substantial (ood shortage, but the psychosis
of food shortage and the widespread belief regarding crop failure, that triggers off price
rise spirals resulting in majo~ malnutrition situations.

(5) Urbanisation:--. Under-nutrition in urban areas is a major;area of concern. St1.:diesby

NNMB have actually shown that the nutritional status of urban slum dwellers in India is
almost as bad as that of rural poor. This is borne out both by figures relating to intake
of food (Table 1) as well as intake of nutrients (Table 2 & 3). The deleterious effects of
rural urban movements on nutrition. in much of the third world. ,is quite well known.
The children oJ.,urban slum dwellers and of the urban informal sector arc nutritionally
the most fragi~ of all groups. Uncertainty of income' and the absence of informal
nutritional support systems within .,ociety. so common to rural areas of India, place
{nany of these families on the very edge of survival. The fallout6f a spreading urban
culture. which encourages diversion of a high proportion of family expenditure to luxury
goods & entertainm.cnt. aggravates the situation. Poor sanitary condi~ions. acute
respiratory infectiens and communicable diseases characterize these urban' settlements.

(6) There arc some regional and occupational specificities of the problems of nutrition. The
nutritional imbalance of hill people engaged in very strenuous labour. the special
nutritional problems of some categories of Industrial Workers and migra~t workmen are
other examples wb1ch need a detailed and specific response.
(7) With the burgeoning size of Indian middle class. ovcrnutrition with attendants of cardio
vascular problems and other health hazards arc affecting large number of people
particularly in the cities.

IV. The Existing Policy Instruments for combating Malu'utrition:-

Till the end of the IV PIan. India's main emphasis was on the aggregate growth of the
economy and reliance was placed on the percolation effects of growth. In the face of
continuing poverty and malnutrition. an alternative strategy of development. cQmprising
a frontal attacK on poverty, unemployment and malnutrition. became a national priority
from the begit1ning of'the V ~Ian. This shift in strategy has given rise to a number of
interventions to increase the purchasing power of the poor, to improve the provision of
basic services to the poor and to' devise a security system threugh which the most
vulnerable sections of the poor (viz. women and children) can be protected. The various
intervention programmes. that we already have, arc given in the Annexure-I.
 7

V. Nutrition Pi,Uey Instruments:

.The Strategy: Nutrition is a multi-sectoral issue and needs to be tackled at various
levels. Nutrition affects development as much as development affects nutrition. It is.
therefore. important to tackle the problem of nutrition both through direct nutrition
intervention for specially vulnerable groups as well as through various development
policy instruments which will create conditions for improved nutrition.
A. .Direct Int.:rventon-Short Term
(i) Nutrition Intervention for specially vulnerable JI'CMIPS:
(a)/ ExpandlnR the Safety Net:- The Universal IlTImunization Programme. oral
Rehydration Therapy and the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) have
had a considerable impact on. child survival (lMR for 1989 stood al 91 per 1000) 8nQ
extreme forms of malnutrition. Thc position. however. is that Ihe silent form of
hunger and malnutrition continues with over 43.8% (1988-90)* children suffering
. from moderate. malnutrition and about 37.6% (1988-90)*' from mild malnutrition.
Therefore.. while more children are surviving'today. an overwhelmingly large number
of them arc destined to remain much below their genetic potential. This is the
enormity of the demographic trap which faces us as we move towards the next
century. There is. therefore. an immediate imperative to substantially expand the.
Nutrition intervention net through ICDS so as to cover all vulnerable chitdrcn in the
age group 0 to 6 years. Presently. India's child population for 0-6 years is around
18% of the total population and. out of this. 30.76 million comprise the children from
the households living below the poverty line in rural areas. Presently ICDS covers
around 15.3 million children (most of them in the rural areas). It should be our
conscious policy to. cover the remaining 15.46 million children. who arc nuJritionally
at risk. by extending ICDS to all the remaining 2388 blocks (5153 minus 2765 blocks
existing) of the country by, the year 2000.
.Source: Nutrition News Vol 12 No.3 May 1991 (NIN)
(b) With the objective of reducing the incidence of severe and moderate malnutrition by
half by the year 2000 A.D. a concerted effort needs to be made to trigger appropriate
behavioural changes among the mothers. Improving growth monitoring between the agc
group 0 to 3 years in particular. with closer involvement of thc mothers. is a key
intervention. 'Presently. growth monitoring has become a one-way process and the
mothers. arc mere passive observers of the entire process. This needs to bc changed
because. after all. nutrition management of the children will have to bc done by the
mothers at home. Getting involved in the growth monitoring of her child will give her a
feeling of control <,vcr the child's nutrition process and. combincd with adequate
nutrition and health education. empower her to manage the nutrition needs of her
children effectively.
(c) Reachinc the Adolescent Girls:- The Government's recent initiative: of including the
adolescent girl within 'the ambit of' ICDS should be intensified so that they are made
ready for a safe motherhood. their n~tritional status (including iron supplementation in
the body) is improved and they are given some skill upgradation training in home-based
skills and eovered by non-formal education. particularly nutrition and. health education.
All adolescent girls from poor families should be covered through the ICDS by 2000
A.D. in all CD blocks of the country and 50% of urban slums.
(d) Ensurinl better coverage of expectant women:- In order to achieve a target of 10%
incidence of low birth weight by 2000 A.D.. sueh coverage should include supplemen-
tary nutrition right from '1st trimester and should continue during the major period of
lactation. at least for the first one year after pregnancy. \

(ii) Fortification of Essential FoocIs:- Essential food items shall be fortified with appropriate
nutrients. for example, salt with iodine and/or iron. However. given the highly extensive
 8

and decentralised proccs~ of salt marketing in the country, there is the need to identify a
vehicle which can be better controlled. Rescarch in iron fortification of rice and other
cereals should be intensified. The distribution of iodised salt should cover all the
population in endemic areas of the country to reduce the iodine defictcncy to below
endemic levds.
(iii) Popularlsation of Low Cost Nutritious Food:- Efforts to produeea'nd popularise !&w-
cost nutritious foods from indigenous and locally available raw material shall be
intensified. It is necessary to involve women particularly in this activity.
(iv) Control of Micro-Nutrient Defidendes amongst vulnerable Groups:- Deficiencies of ViI.
"An, iron and folic acid and iodine among children. pregnant women and nursing
mothers shrill be controlled through intensified programmes. Iron supplementation to
adolescent girls shall be introduced. The programme shall be expanded to cover all
eligible members of the community. The prophylaxis programme, at present, do not
cover all children. For example, the ViI. ..Au programme co~ers only 30 out of about 80
million. It is necessary to intensify all these efforts and work on a specific time frame.
Nutritional blindness should be completely eradicated by the year 2000 A.D. The
National Nutritional Anaemia Prophylaxis Programme should be extended and
strengthened to reduce anaemia in expectant women to 25% by 2000 A.D.
B. Indirect Polley Instruments: Long Term Inslitutional & Structural Changes:-
(i) Food Security: In order to ensure aggregate food sccurity. a per capita availability of 215
kg/person/year of foodgrains needs to be attained. This requires production of 250
million tonnes of food grains per year by 2000 AD and buffer stocks of 30-35 million
tonnes in ordcr to guard against exigencies. such as flood and droughts (Table 8).
Howcver, taking into account the present trends and the possibility of improved
availability of non-cereal food items. there should be a target of at least attaining 230
Million tonnes food grains production by 2000 A.D. (Table 9).
(ii) Improvement of DIetary pattern through Production and Demonstration: .Improving the
dietary pattern by promoting the production and increasing the per capita availability of
nutritionally rieh foods. The production 'of pulses. oil~eeds and other food crops will be
increased with a view to attai!'.;~~ self sufficiency and building surplus and buffer stocks.
The production of protective food crops. such as vegetables. fruits, milk, meat, fish and
poultry. shall be augmented. Preference shall be given to growing foods. such as millets,
legumes, vegetables and fruits (carrots, green leafy vegetables. guava. papaya and
amla). For this purpose. the latest and improved techniques shall be increasingly
applied, high-yielding varieties of food crops developed and extensively cultivated.
adequate extension services mnd~ available to farmers. wastage of food in transit and
storage reduced to the mif!im~m, available food con~erved and effectively utilised and
adequate buffcr stocks built up. Certain imbalances and anamolies in our agricultural
policy need to be redJ:essed immediately. Our Agricultural Policy has been hitherto
concerned with production exclusively and not nutrition. which is the ultimate end.
Whiie the Green Revolution has largely remained a cereal revolution, with bias towards
wheat, coarse grains and pulses, which constitute the poor man's staple & protein
requirements, have not received adequate attention. The prices of pulses, which were
below cereal prices before the Green Revolution. are now almost double the pricp..of
cereals. Our Food Policy should be consistent with our national nutritional needS find
this cans for the introduction of appropriate Incentives. pricing and taxation policies.
(iii) Policies for Effecting Income Transfers so 9S to improve the entitlement package of the
rural and urban poor.
(a) Improving the purchasing power: Poverty alleviation programmes, like the
Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP) and employment generation
schemes like Jawahar Rozgar Yojana, Nehru Rozgar Yojana and DWCRA are to
 9

be re-oriented and restructured to make a forceful dent on the purchasi~g power of

the lowest economic segments of the population. In all poverty alleviation
programmes. .nutritional objectives shall be incorporatt1d explicitly and the
nutritional benefits of income genenuion shall be taken for granted, Existing
programmes shall be scrutinized for their nutrition component. It is necessary to
improve the purchasing power of the landless and the rural and urban poor by
implemen'ting employment generation programmes so that additional employment
of at least 100 days is created for each rural landless family and employment
opportunities are created in urban areas for slum dwellers and the urban poor.
(b) Publit Distribution System: Ensuring an equitable food distribution, through the
expansiQn of the public-distribution system. The Public ,distribution system shall
ensure availability of essential food artich:s. such a.~ coarse grains, pulses and
Jaggery, beside'! rice. wheat. sugar and oil; conveniently and at reasonable prices
to the public. particularly to those living below the poverty line. "ot only in urban
areas but throughout the country. I'or this purPOse. encouragement shall be given
to the consumer cooperatives and fair price shops shall be opened in adequate
number in all areas. .Effective price and quality control shall be exercised over the
cooked foods in restaurants and other eating places.
The Public Distribution Systel'!' should be strengthened especially during the
monsoon months for 'giving special rations at specially subsidized rates for at least
four months (July - October) to the seasonally hat risk" population. The
beneficiaries of this programJ1\eshould inclUdelandless labourers and their families
and the migrant labourers and their families.
(iv) Land Reforms: Implementing land reform measures so that the vulnerability of the
landless and the landed poor could be reduced. This will include both tenural reforms-.s.
well as implementation of ceiling laws, .
(v) Health & Family Welfare: The health and family welfare programmes are an inseparable
part of the strategy. Through "Health for All by 200pAD" programme. increased health
and immunisation facilities shan be provided to all. Improved pre-natal and post-natal
care to ensure safe motherhood shall be made accessibleto all women. The population
in the reproductive age group shall be empowered. through education. to be responsible
for their own family size. Through intensive family welfare and motivational measures:
small family norm and adequate spacing shall be encouraged so that the food available
to the family is sufficient for proper nutrition of the members,
(vi) Bask Health and Nutrition Knowledge: Basic health and. nutrition knowledge. with
special focus on wholesome infant feeding practices, shall be imparted to the people
extensively and effectively. Nutrition and health education concepts shall be effectively
integrated into the school curricula, as' well as into 211nutrition programmes. Nutrition
and Health Education are very important in the context of the problems of
Overnutrition also.
(vii) Prevention of Food A~ulteration: Prevention of food adulteration must be strengthened
by gearing up the enforcement machinery.
(v.iii)Nutrition Su"eiUance: Nutritio:'l surveillance is another weak area requiring immediate
attention. The NNMBININ of ICMR nC('!is to be strengthened so that periodical
monitoring of the nutritional status of children. adolescent girls, and pregnant and
lactating mothers below the poverty tine takes place through representative samples and
results are transmitted to all agencieS"concerned. The NNMB should not only try and
assess the impact of ongoing nutrition and development programmes but also serve as an
Early Warning System for initiating prompt action.
Since the Department of Women & Child Development is the nodal Department
for National Nutrition Policy, it is necessary for the NNMB to be accountable &0this
Deptt. in so far as. Nutrition Surveillance is concerned.
 10

(ix) Monitoring of Nutrition Programmes: Monitoring of Nutrition Programmes (viz ICDS),

and of Nutrition Education aQdDemonstration by the Food & Nutrition Board, through
all its 67 centres & field units, should be continued. The transfer of Food & Nutrition
Board to the Department of Women & Child Development has already been approved
by the Prime Minister. This will ensure an integrated set up to deal with the problem of
nutrition with adequate technical & field~level set up.
(x) Research:.Research into various aspects of nutrition, both on the consumption side as
well as the supply side, is another essential aspect of the strategy. Research must
accurately identify those who are suffering fr~m various degrees of malnutrition.
Research should enable selection of new varieties of food with high nutrition value
which can be within the purchasing power of the poor.
(xi) Equal Remuneration: Special efforts should be made to improve the effectiveness of
progr"mmes related to women. The wages of women shall be at par with that of men in
order to improve women's economic status. This requires a stricter enforcement of the
Equal Remuneration ~ct. Special emphasis will have to be given for expanding
employment opportunities for women.
(xii) CommunIcation:Communication through established media is one ()f the most important
strategies to be adopted for the effective implementation of the Nutrition Policy. The
Department of Women,and Child Development will have a well-established, permanent
Communications Division. with adequate staff and fund support. While using the
communication tools. both mass communication as well as group or inter-personal
communication should be used. Not only the electronic media but also folk and print
media should be used extensively.The existing facilitiesin the Song and Drama Division
and the Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity (DAVP) in the Ministry of
Information and Broadcasting could help in a big way to improve nutrition and health
education. To give a new direction to communication and media, efforts will be made
for promoting sound feeding practices, which are culturally acceptable and /based on
local food habits. Alongside the information gap, existingsocial attitudes am1prejudices,
inherent in our milieu, whiCh discriminate against girls and I women and affect their
health and nutrition, need to be countered through educational programmes. Further,
the media policy shall focus on ways and means to combat malnutrition among girl
children, adolescent girls and women in the reproductive age group. Educational
programmes will be made meaningful and interesting to meet the growing needs of the
population.
The role of information is crucial for nutrition. Such information is not only
important with regard to improved health and nutrition practices but can also have a
vital influence on the market, particularly during natural calamities, war etc. The role of
information during such exigencies is to ensure that the market remain stable without
any panic being created. This also needs to be carefully monitored.
(xiii) Minimum Wage Administration: Closely related to the market, is the need to ensure an
effective. minimum wage administration to ensure its strict enforcement and timely
revision and linking it with price rise through a suitable nutrition formula. A special
legislation should. be introduced for providing agricultural women labourers the
minimum support, and atleast 60 days leave by the 'employer in the last trimester of her
pregnancy. ExcessIveloss of energy during the working seasons has serious nutritional
implications. The legislation should take care of this problem also.
(xiv) Community Participation: The active involvement of the community is essential not
only in terms of being aware of the services available to the community but also for
deriving the maximumbenefit from such servicesby giving timely feedback necessary at
all levels. After all, communication must form an essential part of all services and
people themselves are the best communicators.
Community participation wUl Include:
(a) Generating awareness among the community regarding the National Nutrition
Policy and its major concerns;
 11

(b) involving the community through their Pimchayats or. where Panchayat do not
exist, througl1beneficiary committees in the management of nutrition programmes.
and interventions related to nutrition. such as employment generation. land
reforms, health, education etc.:
(c) actua) partic~pation,particularly of women. in food production and processing
acthdties,
(d) promoting schemes relating to kitchen gardens, food preservation. preparation ot
weaning foods and other food processing units. both at the home level as well as
~ the commdnity levels;. and
(e) Generation of effective demand at the level of the community for all services
relating to nutrition.
(xv) Education lit Llterac:y: It has been shown that Education & Literacy particularlythat of
women, is a key determinant for better nutritional status. For instance, Kerala State
which has the highest literacy level, also has the best nutrition status despite the fact
that calorie intake in Kerala is not the highest among all States in the country.
(xvi) Improvement ot the Status of Women:- The most effective way to implement Nutrition
with mainstream activities in Agriculture, Health, Education and Rural Development is
to focus on improving the status of women, particularly the economic status. After all,
women are the ultimate providers of fiutrition to householt;lsboth through acquisition of
.1ood as well as preparation of food for consumption. There is evidence that women's
employment ,does beneficial household nutriti0n, _both through increase in household
income as well as through an increase in women's status, autonomy and decision-making
power. Morever,. female education also has a strong inverse relationship with IMR.
Educated women have greater roles in household decision making, particularly those
relating to nutrition and feeding practices.
Therefore emphasis on women's employment and education particularly nutrition
and health .educationshould provide the bedrock of the nation's nutritional intervention.
If a self sustaining development model is to be pursued in which the community is able
to manage its nutrition and health needs on its own. The socio-economic security of
women is sine qua non.
This underscores the importance of improving the employment status of womeil.
The groundswell of voluntary action created through the. National Literacy Mission
should be harnessed and channelised into the areas of child survival and nutrition.
VI. Administration and Monitoring
1. implementation of National Nutrition Policy:
(a) The measures enumerated above have to be admi'1isteredby several ministries/departments of
the Government of India and various governmental and non-governmental organisations. There
should be a close collaboration between the Food Policy, the Agricultural Policy. the Health Policy,
the Education Policy, the Rural Development Programme and the Nutrition Policy as each
complements the other.
The NNP should immediately be translated into forceful. viable and realistic sectoral action
programmes. Special working groups-shall be constituted in the Deptts. of Agriculture, Rural
Development, Health, Education, Food and women & Child Development to analyse the nutritional
relevance of scctonll proposals and to incorporate nutritional considerations in the light of the
Nu.rition Policy wherever necessary. Each concerned Central Ministry shall implement the measures
for which it has direct or nodal responsibility.
(b) An Inter-Ministerial Co-ordination Committee will function in the Ministry of Human
Resource Development under the Chairmanship of Secretary, Department of Women and Child
Development, to oversee and review the implementation of nutrition intervention measures. Sectoral
MinistriesIDeptts. concerned, like health and Family Welfare, Education and Agriculture, Food and
Civl supplies etc., will be represented pn the Inter-Ministerial Co-ordination Committee. The
Committee will meet once or twice a year. The Co-ordinati0n Committee would be constituted with
the sectoral representatives or administrators essential for decision making on policy matters. To
analysc. discuss and resolve the technical i!i~Uesand nutrition aspects of all plans and strategies during
the implementation stage, technical experts from concerned areas would be associate members'.
 12

(c) A National Nutrition Council will be constituted in the Planning Commission, with Prime
Minister as President. Members will include concerned Union Ministers, a few State Ministers by
rotation, and experts, and representatives of non-governmental organisations. The Council will be the
national forum for policy co-ordination, review and' direction at the n-ational level. The Council will
meet once a year. The National Nutrition Council will be the high~st body for overseeing the
implementation of the National Nutrition Policy through the various sectoral plans of action and will
issue poli~y guidelines based on latest nutritional surveillance feedback.
2. Monltorina or .Nutrition situation: Nutritional surveilloance of the country's population
especially children and mothers, shall be the responsibility of the National Institute of Nutrition!
NNMB who in turn may involve the ,National Institute of flealth and Family Welfare, Central Health
Education Bureau, Home Science, Medical Colleges and NGOs. There shall be a mechanism to
utilize the services of Food/Nutrition Science and Medical graduates trained every year, to manage
, the national nutrition programmes. NIN/NNMB should be accountable to the Deptt. of Women &
Child Development in so far as Nutrition surveillance. is concerned.
The paucity of reliable andcompal'able data from all parts of the CQuntry is a definite obstacle
towards a realistic and, disaggregated problem definition. This calls for a nation-wide monitoring
system. To achieve this, it is necessary to restructure and strengthen the existing National Nutrition
Monitoring Bureau (NNMB) and to develop a mechanism for generati~g nation-wide disaggregated
data within a short period for use by the Centre and the States for taking corrective action wherever
a
necessary. This would ensure regular monitoring and surveillance system and develop a reliable data
base in the country not only to assess the impact of on going nutrition and development programmes
but also to serve as an early warning system for initiating prompt action. .

3. Role or State Governments: In a federal polity like ours, the cutting edge of governmental
interventions commences from the state level. Therefore, the successful actualisation of Nutrition'
Policy is largely dependent on the effective role of the state Governments.
, The formal structure 'at the State level should be similar to that envisaged under the Government
of India. There should be an apex State level nutrition council to be chaired by the Chief Minister
and to comprise concerned Minister of the State Government, representatives of leading NGOs
working in the state, experts and'representatives of related professional bodies,--Tliereshould be aJ1
Inter-Departmental Coordinating Committee to function. under the Chief Secretary which will
coordinate, oversee and monitor the implementation of the National Nutrition Policy. The Committee
would also focus on the State level targets for the various nutrition-related indicators.based targets set
under the NNP. The Secretary of the Department dealing with women and children should be the
convenorof this Committee. .

Special working groups will be set in the Departments of Agriculture, Rural Development,
Healt~, E~ucation, Food .and Women and Child Development and this group will be responsible for
vetting the various sectoral schemes from the point of view of nutrition before they are finalised.
4. Given the problem of mounting delivery cost of various nutrition interventions, it' is necessary
to mobilise resources from within the community in order to ensure sustainability of these
interventions. This is a major area of concern and the State Governments, local bodies (including
Municipal ahd Panchayat bodies); NGOs, cooperatives and professional organisations and pressure
groups must take this up as a challenge. In a pluralistic society like ours, a concerted effort by all of
them is the only way to build community support and ultimately community participation in these
sc~emes. Successfyl examples of the community contributing the nutrition component of ICDS
Scheme exists in certain States. It is poSsibleto replicate these examples. Many State Governments
have started a major mid-day meal programme funded out of the State resources. The other State
GovernmentslUnion Territory Admns. may also consider such an introduction in their primary and
secondary schools. The private schools and schools which are capable of mobilising their own
resources may be encouraged to introduce such schemes out of their own resources.
The State Governments may consider constituting similar bodies, i.e. State Co-ordination
Committees and State Nutrition Councils, as well as such bodies at the district levels.
In a massive country .like India, with autonomous states, each with its characteristic problems,
priorities, approaches and resources, the state level nutrition policies would be better able to deal
with the problems. After the NNP of India is operationaHsedwith specificobjectives, plans ofaetion,
strategies, targets and time frame, development of state- level policies shall be encouraged.,
.....
 "

ANNEXURE I

INTERVENTION PROGRAMMES TO COM8AT MALNUTRITION

Inteanted Child Development Services

1. The Government of India is making concerted efforts to reduce the prevalence of malnutrition
in the country. In co.nson!lnce with tbis, the scheme of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)
was launched in 1975. This programme is implemented b~ the Nodal Department i.e. tt.e DepartQ1ent
of Women and Child Development. Starting with 33 experimental projects in 1975-76, the ICDS
programme has be.en expanded to 2765 p'rojects upt<> December 1992 The package of services
provided to the beneficiaries of the programme are supplementary nutrition, Immunization, Health
check~up. Referral services, Non-formal pre-school ~ducation and Nutrition and health Education.
Supplementary nutrition is one of the major components of the programmes. The coverage of
beneficiaries for supplement"ary nutrition in ICDS as on December 1992, are as follows:

Children below 3 years 69.40 lakhs

Children in the age group of 3-{) years 83.13 lakhs

Women beneficiaries 30.08 lakhs

The .strategy adopted in ICDS is one of the Integrated delivery of early childhood services so that
their synergistic effect will fulfill the objective of the programme. The beneficiaries of the programme
arc children below 6 years, pregQant and lactating mothers and women in the age group 15-44 years.
This programme supplements the health, nutrition and family welfare activities with appropriate
cooperation and coordination between functionaries of the Health Department and nodal department.

2. The other programmes in this direction are the Special Hutrition Programme, Balwadi
Nutrition Programme, Wheat Based Supplementary Nutrition Programme, Tamil Nadu Integrated
Nutritibn Programme, Mid Day Meals- Programm~ for school children and other intervention
programmes for combating specific nutritional Deficiency Diseases such as Nutritional Anaemia
Prophylaxis Programme, 6oitre Control Programme and Programme for Prevention of Nutritional
Blindness due to Vitamin A Deficiency.

Special Nutrition Programme

3. The special Nutrition Programme (SNP) was launched in the country in 1970-71. It provides
supplementary feeding to the extent of about 300 calori~s and 10 gm. of proteins to pre-school
children and about 500 calories and 20 gm. of protein to expectant and nursing mothers for 300 days a
year. At present SNP is operated, as a part of the Minimum Needs Programme in the various states.
The nutrition component of the ICDS programme is funded by States and Union Territories from the
SNP budget. At present about 21.5 million beneficiaries are covered under this programme.

Balwadi Nutrition Programme

4. The Balwadi Nutrition Programme (BNP) is being implemented since 1970-71 through five
national level voluntary organisations. The Central grant is given for. supplemerltary feeding of
children. It consists of 300 calories and 10 gm. of p' Aein per child per day for 270 days a year.
During 199r-92, about 0.23 million children in the age group 3-5 years in 5640 balwadis were
covered by the scheme.

13
 Wheat Supplemeat8ry Nutrition PrOlramme
S. A ceJ<ttaUysponsored scheme called Wheat-based Supplementary Nutrition Programme
(WNP) was introduced in 1986. This programme follows the norms of SNP or of the nutrition
component of the ICDS. Central aSsistancefor the proara~me consists of supply of free wheat and
supportive costs for othet ingredients, cooking, transport ctc. At present around 3 million children
.and expectant and nursine mothers arc covered under this programme. This scheme is now being
. transfclJcd to the Sta&e Sector.
T"" N- 'atear_tedNutritionPrOlramme
6. Tamil Nadu Integrated NtUrition Programme (TINP) is being implemented in the State of
Tamil Nadu sind 1981. At present the scheme covers 316 blocks in Tamil Nadu. Under this project
nutritional surveillanceand supplementary nutrition is being provided to children below six years and
expectant and nursing mothers. The project is assisted by World Bank. Thc total outlay for the
project is Rs.J21 crotes.
Mid 0., Meal Proanmnae
7. In 1956the erstwhile Madras State launched the mid-day meal programme of providing free
meal'to the elementary school children with a view to (a) enrolling poor children who generally
remain outside the school due to poverty; 'and (b) giving one meal to the children attending the
school. The MDM operated a.~a Centrally sponsored scheme from 1962-63in all the states. The
objectiveswere (a) to improve nutritional status of the school children; and (b) to attract children to
enroll themselves into school and to encourage regular attendance by providing supplementary
nutrition,
It..1 A ,..,laxls PrOlnmme
8. Taking cognizance of this problem, the Government of India launched a Prophylaxis
prosram~e in 1970 to prevent nutritional anaemia in mothers and children. Under the programme,
thc expectant and nursing mothers as well as women acceptorsof familyplanning are given one tablet
01 iron and folic acid containing 60 mg elemental iron (180 mgof ferrous sulphate and 0.5 mg of folic
acid) and children in the age group 1-5 years are given one tablet of iron containing 20 mg elemental
iron (60 mg of ferrous sulphate and 0.1 mg folic acid) daily for a period of 100days, This programme
covered children and pregnant women with haemoglobin level less than 8 gm per cent and 10 gm per
cent respectively. .

9. There has been an increase in the number of beneficiariesunder this programme from 3.52
millionin 1975-76to 41.20 million in 1988-89.About 30 million women and 50 million children have,
however. been identified as eligible beneficiaries for the prophylaxisprogramme. During 1988-89,the
programme envisaged to cover 22 million women and 30 million children.
10. Fortification of salt with iron. a universally consumcd dietary article. has been identified as a
measure to eo~trol anaemia. Efficacy of fortified salt in both rura~ and urban communities was
assessed by a multicentric study and revealed that iron fortified salt when consumed over a period of
12-18 months reduced prevalence of anaemia significantly. Accordingly. fortification of salt with iron
as a public health approach is. piloted in Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan,
Prophylaxis ~roaramme Against Blindness Due tfi Vitamin A Deficiency
11. The programme was/lnitiated by the Government in 1970. Under this programme children in
age group 1 ,.5 years are given an oral dose of 0.2 million LU. of Vitamin A in oil'evet.y 6 months,
The number of beneficiaries covered under this programme has increased steadily from 4.48 million in
1975-76 to 30.12 million in 1986-81. It is hoped to achieve universal coverage of the target population
of about 50 million children in the age group 1-5 years by 1990.
12. An interim evaluation in the States of Kerala and Karnataka after two years of
implementation of the programme showed that the coverage was over 75 per cent and there was a 75

14
 15

per cent reduction in the prevalence of conjunctivill signs of Vitamin A 'deficiency. The evalua~ion
also confirms the,administrativc feasibility of this approach within the existing health infrastructure.
13. During 1980, the Department of Food introduced a scheme of Fortification of Milk with
Vitamin A to prevent nutritional blindness. At present there are 42 dairies in the country
implementing this scheme. During 1988-89, the total quantity of milk fortified with Vitan)in A
through these dairies was 3.2 miltiolT litres p'cr day,

14, MCn Division of the Ministry of H~alth & Family Welfare has been implementing the
programmes on anaemia prophylaxis. and prophylaxis against Vitamin 'At deficiency. These
programmes were reviewed by two groups' of experts and accordingly certain modifications have been
made with concentrated efforts on all pregnartt mothers receiving 100 tablets of Iron Folic Acid and
universalisation of Vitamin 'A' to be provided to all children between 9 months and 3 years of age.
The lactating women and those who have accepted certain family planning devices will continue to get
the drugs as per earliest sched'ule. Suitable linkages have also been developed for these programmes
wilh immunisation and arrangements have been made for regular monitoring through the sanw
programme.
Goilre Control Programme

1~. A National Goitre Control Programme was initiated by"he GQ'Vcmment of lo9ia in 1962 to
identify goitre endemic regions and to assess the impact of goitre control measures. The availability
and production of iodized salt. strengthening of administrative machinery controlling the -entry of non-
iodized salt in the endemic regions have been recommended as measpres to improve the
implementaion of the programme.

16. There is an increasing awarenC$S about the broad spcctrum of Iodine Deficiency Disorder
(lOD) in the country. The Goitre Control Programme has gained momentum ili recent years. The
Government -of India has started a scheme with' effect from 1.4.1986 envisaging Uni,vcrsal lodisation
of EdibleSaltt in a phased manncr to cover the whole country by 1992. It has liberalised production
of iodized salt under the private sector by issuing license to 700 salt manufacturer!\-out/of which 307
have commenced production. As a rtsult thereof. the production of iodiscd salt in the country has
steadily increased to 25.06 lakh M.T. in 1990-91 from 7.72 lakh,M.T. in 1986-87. Since the inception
of this programme in 19 StateslUnion Tcrritories have so far established Goitre Control Cells in their
State Health Directorates for effective implementation an~ monitoring of the programme. Till date 20
StateslUTs have prohibited the sale of edible salt other than io~sed salt in their respective States!
UTs under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act. The remaining StateslUTs have been requested
to issue a similar ban expeditiously. The SlateslUTs have also been requested to arrange for
distribution of,iodised salt'through their Public Distribution System. It is estimated that about 200
million people will have to be protected against goitre by 2000' A.D.
National Diarrhoeal Diseases Control Programme

17.The programme was launched in 1981 to reduce the mortality in children below five years due
to diarrhoeal diseases through introduction of Oral Rehyderation Therapy (ORT). The high priority
accorded to t~e Programme is part of the package of services rendered under the MCH programme
which was initiated d.uring 1980-85 has now been strengthened extensively. The Anganwadi Centres of
the ICDS Scheme have serv.cd as nucleus for the propagation of Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT)
which has been found to be an effective measure of preventing dehydration caused by diarrhoea.
Functions ,of the Food & Nutrition Board

18. The Food & Nutrition Board', as reconstituted on 26 July 1990, advises Government,
coordinates and reviews the activities in regard to food and nutrition ~ extension/education;
development, production & popularisation of nutritious Foods and Beverages; measures required to
combat deficiency diseases; and 'Consetvation and efficient utilisation as well as augmentation of food
resources by way of food pres£rvation .and processing.
 GRAPH-I

",..---
r---~,,--- ""
,~ ;'"
/
,( "/ -- -"
/'
2600 " ',~ /'" / / '",,\
'" I,,"""" " " ,
"','.v/ /,," '",/v "",\ 3-5
~ 'M
2400
--- -- ",/
",,--- 1-2
'
8- .""""
"""""""'
//
/ less than
ACI
2200

~
'-"

2000
~
;a

~
u
1800

1600
75 76 77 78 79 80 81

Graph-I Calorie intakes in different income groups druing 1975-81.

SOURCE:- NUTRITION PROFILE IN INDIA OVER A DECAD.E:
N. Prahlad Rao & J. Gaurinath Sastri, National Institute of Nutrition.
"Towardsthe implementationof a National Nutrition Policyin India." Pub:
ICMR, 1986

16
 17

T AOLE 1: Average intake of-Jood sluffs (iVcu.{day) in urban and rural areas
Fo,)() Urban -- 1975--79 Rural Leat
Cost
HIG MIG LlG IL SD 1975 L76 - 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1988.89Balanced
Diet
--
(I) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (II) (12) (13) (14) . (15) (16)
Cereals 316 361 .478 420 416' 641 633 614 617 570 613 553 4911 521 4611
Pulse 57 49' 42 41 33 32 43 34 36 37 33 35 311 .37 .w
Leafy Vegetables 21 21 16 13 II 11 12 11 14 13 I I 23 I. 4(1
Other Vegetables 113 89 55 56 40 51 51 58 56 58 75 51 53 53 60
Milk 424 250 95 98 42 SO. 103 88 66 90 88 70 711 88 ISO
---
Fats and Oils 46 35 22 23 13 9 II 12 9 12 10 9 10 14 40

H Recommendedby ICMR (1981) for adult sedentary male'

HIG . High Income Group
MIG . Middle: Income Group
LlG . Low Income Group
IL . Industrial Labour
SD . Slum Dwellers
se~"CI':
Ii) National Institute of Nutrition. National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau. Repon on Urban Population. Hyderabad. 1984.
Iii) National Institute of Nutrition. National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau. Repon of the year 1981. 1982. Hyderabad.
Iiii) 'National Institut~ of Nutrition. Nutriti<1n News 7(2). March 1986. I-fyderabad.
(iv) Nationalillstitute of Nutrition. Nmional Nutrition Monitoring Bureau. In(rim Reran of Repeat Survey. Phase. I". 1.989.
 18

TABLE 2: Average intake of DUtrhts (per/cu/day)

ADA UrbaD Rural

lCMR 1975-79
(1981)
1975. 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983" 1988-89
Nutrients HIG MIG LlG IL SD
Calories 2400 2603 2364 2230 2243 2008 2296 2369 2306 2341 2366 2404 2409 2243 2481 2419
(K Cat)
Proteins 55.0 73.4 63.2 57.8 59.4 53.4 63.6 65.4 61.9 «'2.6 62.3 62.3 64.4 58.7 63.8 64.5
(g)
Iron 24.0 27.3 26.7 26.5 26.3 24.9 31.8 31.4 29.3 31.1 30.3 29.6 31.7 30.4 31.1 30.5
(ms)
Vito A 750 881 555 332 352 248 263 292 262 3f11 270 313 373 366 300 352
( I' g.
Retinol)
. During 1983; the surveys were conducted on a sub-sample of NSSO in only 4 states RDA
Allowanc:e
- Recommended Dietary

Soruu:
(i) National Institute of Nutrition, National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau, Report on Urban Population, Hyderabad,
1984.
(ii) National Institute of Nutrition, National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau, Repcjn of tbe year 1981, 1982,Hyderabad.
(ill) National Institute of Nutrition, Nutrition.News 8(6), Nov. 1987, Hyderabad.
(iv) India. Ministry of Planning, Central Statistical Organisation, Second Seininar on Social Statistics, February 4-6,
1988. New Delhi, 1988.
(v) National Institute of Nlotrition,National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau, Interim Repon of Repeat Survey. Phase-I.
1989.

TABLE:3 Intake of Nutrients in different Demographic Groups

No Land. Less then 5-10 More than Labourers Cultivators others

5 Acres Acres 10 Acres

Calories (Per consumer unit per day)

Keraia 1824 1904 2232 1589 1718 2040 2015
Tamil Nadu 2108 2320 2671 2718 2012 2548 2321
Kamataka 2312 2576 2860 3099 2338 2901 2526
Andhra Pradesh 2274 2480 2824 2974 2358 2805 2338
Maharashtra .2006 2178 2251 2517 1948 2413 2150
1999 2042 2234 2444 1941 2219 2097
Gujarat
1977 1939 2108 2403 1905 2221 2059
Madhya Pradesh
1866 2346 3055 3052 1806 2543 2414
West Bengal
Uttar Pradesh 1991 2116 2227 2377 2000 2192 2043
(gm per consumer unit -per day)
Kerala 44.2 44.3 57.5 34.6 37.7 49.3 49.0
Tamil Nadu 52.3 56.6 66.7 67.2 49.6 62.4 57.7
Kamataka 63.3 65.3 76.3 86.5 63.2 77.0 67.0
Andhra Pradesh 53.8 59.7 72.3 74.3 55.7 70.4 55.9
Maharashtra 58.8 62.5 65.7 73.8 57.5 70.3 62.3
57.2 60.1 64.5 70.6 56.9 65.0 58.0
Gujarat
58;0 59.9 67.1 74.5 57.3 69.5 61.5
Madhya Pradesh
West Bengal 48.7 59.2 76.3 75.2 46.7 63.3 61.3.
Uttar Pradesh 64.2 66.2 73.9 77.7. 64.4 69.9 65.1

Source- Annual Report (1979)of NationalNutritionMonitoringBureau, NationalInstituteof Nutrition,Hyderabad.

Reportedby RajaramDasgupta,Economic&.PoliticalWeekly,Vol. XVIII No. 28, July.9, 1983.
 I ~ -.. t ,

19

TABLE-4
PERCENT DISTRIBUTION OF CHILDREN (1-5 YEARS) ACCORDING TO
NUTRITIONAL GRADES.

State Period n Normal Mild Moderate Severe

'Kerala 1975-79 737 7.5 35.7 46.5 10.3

1988-90 882 17.7 47.4 32.9 2.0

Tamil Nadu 1975-79 1183 6,2 4.2 47.0 12.6

1988-90 3337 8.0 42.0 45.8 4.2
Karnataka 1975-79 1065 4.6 31.1 50.0 14.3
1988-90 2035 4.8 38.1 48.8 8.3
Andhra Pradesh 1975-79 809 6.1 32.4 46.1 15.4
1988-90 2838 8.7 39.5 44.3 7.5
Maharashtra 1975-79 760 3.2 25.4 49.5 21.9
1Q88-90 1666 6.7 38.0 47.5 7.8
Gujarat 1975-79 718 3.8 28.1 54.3 13.8
1988-90 1262 7.3 33.9 45.8 13.0
Madhya Pradesh 1975-79 $85 8.4 30.3 45.1 16.2
1988-90 237 17.7 27.4 38.9 16.0
Orissa 1970-79 571 7.5 35.9 41.7 14.9
1988-90 1175 8.1 34.6 46.6 10.7
Pooled 1975-79 6428 5.9 31.6 47.5 15.0
1988-90 13432 9.9 37.6 43.8 8.7

.Based on NCHS standards

Source: National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau Report of Repeat .Surveys (1988-90) published by
National Institute of Nutrition. Indian Council of Medical research, Hyderabad.

Table 5 : Incidence 01 Bitot's spot among chUdren in rural I~

Areas (percentage)

Year pre-school children School going children

(l~5 years) (5-14 years)
1975 0.6 1.7
1976 1.4 4.1
1977-78 1.4 4.2
1979 0.9 1.3
1980 1.5 3.1
1981 2.7 5.1
1982 1.8 3.1

Figures indicated are the median values of the prevalence levels in the surveyed states,
Sources: Rao, N. Pralahad and Gowrinath, S.l. Diet and Nutrition Profile in Ten States of India
over a Decade in the implementation of a National Nutrition Policy in India, October
28-30, 1985, Srinagar.
 20

Tabl~: CIaIIdM , rate ("'" yn.) bJ lex 8Ddrani nsIdeDce

Yean Rural Utban Combined

Male Female Pen. Male Female pen. Male Female Pen.
1971 53.2 59.3 S6.2 31.1 33.3 32.2 53.2 59.3 51.9
1981 43.1 48.0 45.5 20.0 20.9 20.4 39.2 43.3 41.2
1982 45.7 43.9 21.2 20.5 20.9 31.9 40.5 39.1
1983 40.
421 43.1 41.8 21.1 21.7 21.4 36.5 38.7 37.6
1984 44.2 48.2 46.2 22.6 23.8 23.2 39.5 43.0 41.2
1985 41.4 45.3 43.3 19.4 22.1 20.7 36.6 40.4 38.4
1986 36.6 43.3 40.8 20.3 21.5 20.9 34.7 38.6 36.6

Source:. , Office of the aistnr General, Vital Statistics Division, SaaaapleRegistration System,
1971, 1981-1986.

Table.7: , ... IIIt8kebJ M8IesaDd..1III8Ies

f1lDHrereatAle Groups
Age Group Energy, Kcail d Protein, g I d
RDA Intake RDA Intake
female male female male female male female male

CIIIIdr8
1-3 Yean 10SO 1200 773 780 22.5 23.5 21.9 22.0
4-6 years 1500 1700 1097 1112 28.5 30.0 30.9 31.5
7-9 years 1800 2OSO 1320 1325 43.0 43.0 36.0 39.0
.112 yean 19SO 21SO 1483 15SO 62.0 59.0 41.0 42.9
Adolesceatl
13-15 years 2OSO 2400 1620 1773 65.0 76.0 42.9 49.1
16-18 years 2OSO 2600 1721 1937 66.0 81.0 47.7 58.6
AdultS 1800 23SO 1789 2169 SO.O 60.0 SO.4 62.0
(sedentary)

Intake based on NNMB 'Survey in 10 States, 1975-80

 21

Table 8: Crop pndudioa perfGrmuce8DdProdIlCtloa

Projedloalfor 1919-901994-95 .. A.D. .

crop 1988-89 1989-90 1994-95 2000

Act, Ach. Target Projections Projections
(million Tonnes)

1. ,......... 70.47
i) Rice 72.50 88.0 106.0
ii) Wheat 54.12 54.00 67.0 80.0
iii) Coarse Grains 32.65 34.00 37.0 42.0
iv) Pulses 14.92 14.50 18.0 22.0
Total 172.16 175.00 210.0 250.0
2. oilseeds 17.50 18.00 22.5 27.0
3. Sugarcane 210.00 217.00 270.0 320.0

S8ura: Ministry of Food It Civil Supplies, Food and Nutrition Board, Department of Food, National
Workshop on Dietary and Nutritional Guidelines for food and agriculture planning, October
4-6, 1989, New Delhi. .
 22

Table-9 CURRENT LEVEL OF J»RODUCTION 1988-89AND PROJECTIONS FOR 2000 A.D.

The demand and supply balances for 2000 AD in respect of commodities shown below alongwith
production figures for 1988-89.

Sl. Items Production.. Demand". Supply."

No. in 1988-89 (Million Tonnes) (Million
(MillionTonnes) Tonnes)
Low High

t. Total Foodgrains 170.25 205 225 230

Cereals 156.55 195
Pulses 13.70 35
2. Oils - 8.3 10.2 9.7
(Oilseeds equivalent) 17.88 - - (26.0)
3. Milk 49.10 49.4 64.4 64.40
4. Meat N.A. 1.57 2.11 2.10
5. Eggs (million nos.) 18,666 17,419 28,513 27,882
6. Fish 3.15 4.6 5.5 8.0
7. Vegetables N.A. 50.00 55.00 N.A.
8. Fruits N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A.
.
N.A.-Not Available
Comments:
1. The nutritional needs require consumption ~f vegetables of 200 gm per adult per day. The
requirement would be 55 million tonnes, of vegetables. considering the potential for internal
demand as well as for export. production could be planned for 80 mi:lion tonnes for vegetables
for 2000AD on an area of 4 million hectares, assumingan average target yield oL20 tonnes per
hectare. .

2. The total production of oils from field crops and other sources i.e. exploitation of cotton seed,
rice bran, maize, coconut, oil palm etc. is estimated at 9.7 million tonnes in 2000 A.D.
Source: .. Arinu8I Repon 1989-90, Deptt. of Agriculture, Govt. of India.
."Repon of the National Commission on Agriculture, 1976 (abridged) Ministry of
Agriculture, Govt. of India, New Delhi.