Eleventh Five Year Plan

Nutrition and Social Safety Net 1474.1.92 Vitamin A supplementation and nutritioneducation is being implemented through the PHCs,Sub Centres, and the Anganwadis. The services ofICDS Programme, under the MoWCD, are utilizedfor the distribution of vitamin A to children in theICDS blocks and for educa-tion of mothers in preventionof VAD.Other Micronutrient Deficiencies4.1.93 Recently, GoI examined the issue of use of zincin the management of diarrhoea for the children andrecommended to administer zinc as part of ORS inthe management of diarrhoea for children older thanthree months. It is expected that introduction of zincfor diarrhoea will go a long way in reducing IMR inthe country.4.1.94 Apart from major macro and micronutrientsthere exist more than 300 nutrients, which are vitalfor the body. In recent years micronutrients and phytonutrients (nutrients in edible plants having antioxidantand anti-inflammatory) have acquired centrestage in the field of nutrition. Phyto nutrients in thefoods have biological property for disease preventionand health promotion. Truly nutritious diet is onethat promotes health and prevents diseases. There isconsiderable interaction between different micronutrientswith respect to metabolic function. Diets ofthe poor and even of some rich people may be deficientin a number of nutrients. Evidences basedon research suggest that consumption of balancedfood including protective foods like milk; variedkind of fruits, vegetables, etc. will meet the nutritionalneeds of the body. However, limited data is availableregarding causes of deficiencies, interactions amongvarious micronutrients when given as supplements,modalities of prevention and management ofdeficiencies, stability of micronutrients in fortifiedfoods, etc.4.1.95 ISSUES OF CONCERN• Micronutrient malnutrition continues unabated inthe country leading to heavy economic loss.• Exact mapping of micronutrient deficiencies has notbeen done for the country.• Existing programmes do not address the problem ina holistic manner. Only nutrient supplementationprogrammes are in existence and that too not coveringthe entire high risk group.• There is inadequate monitoring of micronutrientdeficiencies in the country. NFHS undertaken everysix years covers only anaemia levels in women andchildren under three years and projects only Statelevelpicture. NNMB exists only in few States givingState-level projections for the eight States only.• Dietary diversification and nutrition education havenot been given the required thrust.• Food fortification has not been studied adequately.• Nutrition-oriented horticultural interventionsto promote production of fruits and vegetablesat household and community level are yet to betaken up.• Awareness generation on consequences of micronutrientmalnutrition, its prevention, and managementis not being addressed adequately.TOWARDS FINDING SOLUTIONS4.1.96 A five-pronged strategy will be adopted duringthe Eleventh Plan to accelerate the programmes toovercome micronutrient deficiency in the country.These relate to:(i)Dietary Diversification: It means increasing therange of micronutrient-rich foods consumed. Inpractice, this requires the implementation ofprogrammes that improve the availability andconsumption of, and access to, different typesof micronutrient-rich foods (such as animalproducts, fruits, and vegetables) in adequatequantities, especially among those who are at riskfor, or vulnerable to, micronutrient malnutrition.Attention also needs to be paid to ensure thatdietary intakes of oils and fats are adequate forenhancing the absorption of the limited suppliesof micronutrients. It includes activities thatimprove production, availability, and access tomicronutrient-rich and locally produced foodsas a major focus of this type of intervention.Equally important is the use of communicationand education activities to motivate changes inbehaviour that increase consumption of beneficialfoods, increase food production, and improvefeeding practice in infants and children. Manydietary diversification activities operate at the