NEW DELHI: Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi on Monday underlined the need for a comprehensive time-bound action plan to accelerate the progress towards nutrition security in the county.
As the Ministry of Women and Child Development has fast-tracked the formulation of the National Mission to tackle malnutrition, Maneka directed various stakeholders to have a plan in place by November 1 this year. Addressing the workshop held to discuss the fast-tracking of the National Mission on nutrition, Maneka appreciated the suggestions of some of the experts like setting up of an autonomous body to oversee the implementation of such an action plan.
According to her, the NDA-BJP Government has accorded top priority to the Mission. The two-day workshop has been organised by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the All Indian Institute of Medical Sciences(AIIMS). Union Health secretary Lov Verma said the ministry is setting up Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres to tackle acute malnutrition, adding that such centres are already in place in several states and union territories.
Satish Agnihotri, Secretary (Co-ordination), Cabinet Secretariat, stressed the need for a frontal attack on malnutrition.
India’s performance is dismal even when we take into account countries with comparable GDP levels, he said.
Vinay Sheel Oberoi, Secretary in the Ministry of Women and Child Development, emphasised the need for decentralisation and an established tracking system to achieve targets.