National Nutrition Week (NNW) is annually observed across India from September 1 to 7, to raise awareness among people about the vital role of nutrition and health in human lives, and to promote healthy and hygienic eating habits.
- The main objective of NNW is to highlight the importance of a healthy diet and its impact on the body, as a balanced diet with essential nutrients is necessary for proper development and functioning.
The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) is celebrating the 6th Rashtriya Poshan Maah throughout September 2023 across India.
- This aims to foster nutritional understanding across India through a theme centered on “Suposhit Bharat, Sakshar Bharat, Sashakt Bharat” (Nutrition-rich India, Educated India, Empowered India).
Background:
i.In India, NNW was initiated in 1982 as a Mass Awareness Campaign by the Food and Nutrition Board (FNB), under the purview of the MWCD of the Government of India (GoI).
- The FNB is a technical support wing under the Child Development Bureau of the MWCD that provides technical support to the government on matters related to nutrition.
ii.The first NWW was observed from 1st to 7th September 1982.
Poshan Maah 2023
The month long observance aims to create awareness concerning critical human life stages: pregnancy, infancy, childhood, and adolescence.
This events organised under Poshan Maah 2023 will work to enhance ground-level nutritional awareness through campaigns focusing on key themes around Exclusive Breastfeeding and Complementary Feeding.
Significance:
i.During the NNW, every year the MWCD implements 7 days long programs to promote awareness about healthy eating and proper nutrition for maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
ii.POSHAN Abhiyaan (erstwhile National Nutrition Mission) was launched in March 2018 to achieve improvement in the nutritional status of Children from 0-6 years, Adolescent Girls, Pregnant Women, and Lactating Mothers in a time-bound manner.
- And also to achieve a reduction in stunting and wasting in children (0-6 years) as well as a reduction in anaemia in women, children, and adolescent girls. The scheme has been extended up to 31st March 2023.
What is malnutrition?
i.It refers to deficiencies, excesses, or imbalances in a person’s intake of energy and/or nutrients. Malnutrition occurs in people who are either undernourished or overnourished.
ii.The term malnutrition covers 2 broad groups of conditions.
- Undernutrition: It includes stunting (low height for age), wasting (low weight for height), underweight (low weight for age), and micronutrient deficiencies or insufficiencies (a lack of important vitamins and minerals).
- The other is overweight, obesity, and diet-related noncommunicable diseases (such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer).
Global Hunger Index 2022:
i.In the 2022 GHI, India ranks 107th out of the 121 countries with sufficient data to calculate 2022 GHI scores. With a score of 29.1, India has a level of hunger that is serious.
- Top performers in GHI 2022 are: Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Chile,
ii.GHI measures and tracks the hunger situation at global, regional, and national levels over the long term, and has been jointly published by Welthungerhilfe and Concern Worldwide since 2006.
About Ministry of Women and Child Development
Union Minister– Smriti Zubin Irani (Constituency- Amethi, UP)
Minister of State– Dr. Munjpara Mahendrabhai Kalubhai (Constituency- Surendranagar, Gujarat)
