INVC,,
Delhi,,
The Prime Minister presided over the first meeting of the Prime Minister’s National Council on India ’s Nutrition Challenges on 24 November 2010. The meeting was attended by Shri Sharad Pawar, the Agriculture Minister, Shri Kapil Sibal, the Human Resources Development Minister, Shri C.P. Joshi, the Rural Development Minister, Shri Montek Singh Ahluwalia, the Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, Smt. Krishna Tirath, the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Women and Child Development, Shri Sachin Pilot, MoS, Telecommunication, Dr. Syeda Hameed, Member, Planning Commission, Shri Arun Gupta, Dr. Prema Ramachandran, Dr. Rohini Nayyar, and Members of the Council.
Prime Minister termed the problem of Malnutrition a complex one caused by multiple factors and with long term consequences on the growth, development and well being of our nation. He said in spite of the impressive growth of our economy and a number of programmes aimed at meeting the nutritional challenge, the levels of under-nutrition continue to remain unacceptably high. Further the rates of reduction in under-nutrition over time have been disappointingly low. He said this is this is simply unacceptable.
The issues were discussed in detail. A number of valuable suggestions were made which will be kept in view as the concerned Ministries take follow up action. It was noted that Government had several programmes, which seek to tackle individual determinants of malnutrition. However, coordinated policy action is required for the individual sectors to work together.
