On November 18, 2019 the union minister of Women and Child Development (MoWCD) Smt Smriti Zubin Irani has announced the Bharatiya Poshan Krishi Kosh (BPKK), a repository of a variety of crops across 128 agro-climatic zones for better nutritional outcomes in New Delhi. MoWCD has collaborated with Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for this project.
Aim: The aim of the kosh is to reduce malnutrition through multi-sectoral results-based framework, which includes agriculture, among women and children across the country. It also aims to promote healthy dietary practices.
Key Points:
i.5-point action plan: Father of Green Revolution in the country, Dr Mankombu Sambasivan Swaminathan through a video conference released five-point action plan to make India nutrition secure. The 5 points are
- Ensuring calorie-rich diet to women and children,
- Ensuring high protein diet,
- Eradicating hidden hunger by deficiency of micro- nutrients,
- Ensuring clean drinking water supply and
- Spreading nutrition literacy across the country.
ii.Special address was delivered by Mr. Bill Gates (born as William Henry Gates III), Co-chair, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
iii.As part of the collaboration by MoWCD and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, 12 states will be selected where a local partner organisation having relevant work experience in Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) and nutrition for developing the food atlas will be appointed in each of these states.
iv.Evaluation of diet practises: The Harvard Chan School of Public Health,Massachusetts, America, through its India Research Center and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, will document and evaluate dietary practices.
About Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation:
Fact- It is reported to be the largest private foundation in the world. The primary goals of the foundation are, globally, to enhance healthcare and reduce extreme poverty, and, in the U.S., to expand educational opportunities and access to information technology.
Launched- 2000.
Headquarters- Seattle, Washington, United States(US).
Previous name- William H. Gates Foundation
