India continues to grapple with high levels of childhood malnutrition, despite various government-led initiatives. The central government has recently urged state governments and union territory administrations to consider the introduction of millets into the PM POSHAN Scheme. This move is designed to improve the nutritional outcome of children in districts where eating millets is already a culturally accepted habit.
The Benefits of Millets
Millets, also known as nutri-cereals, include crops such as Jowar, Bajra, and Ragi. These foods are nutrient-rich, containing an array of minerals, B-complex vitamins, proteins, and antioxidants. Infusion of millets into diets could significantly boost the nutritional security of children. Additionally, growing these crops can support food system security and welfare of farmers, as they are resilient to varied agro-climatic conditions found across India. This proposal aligns well with India’s initiative to designate 2023 as the “International Year of Millets”, which has received approval from the United Nations General Assembly.
The PM Poshan Scheme Explained
In September 2021, the Union Cabinet greenlighted the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman, or PM-POSHAN for short, intended to furnish one hot cooked meal each day in Government and Government-aided schools. Allocated a financial outlay of Rs 1.31 trillion, this scheme replaced the previous national programme for mid-day meals and will run for an initial five years, from 2021 to 2026.
Key Features of the PM Poshan Scheme
The PM Poshan Scheme has several hallmark features. It distributes 100 grams and 150 grams of food grains per working day to primary and upper primary schoolchildren respectively, aiming to provide a minimum of 700 calories. It also features a provision for supplementary nutrition for children in aspirational districts and those suffering from anaemia.
The scheme encompasses the concept of “Tithi Bhojan”, where community members provide special food to children during festivals or special occasions. Moreover, it introduces a Direct Benefit Transfer system for compensating cooks and helpers, involves Farmers Producer Organizations and Women Self Help Groups, and appoints a nutrition expert in each school to monitor health aspects. A social audit of the scheme has been mandated at the school level to review implementation.
The Need for Introducing Millets
The rationale behind the millet initiative lies in the concerning levels of malnutrition and anaemia among Indian children. According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-5, 35.5% of children under five were stunted and 32.1% were underweight in 2019-2021. Furthermore, the Global Nutrition Report (GNR, 2021) highlighted India’s lack of progress on anaemia and childhood wasting, with over 17% of children under 5 years affected by the latter issue.
Other Related Initiatives
In conjunction with the PM Poshan Scheme, several other initiatives are in place to tackle malnutrition and enhance child nutrition, including the Anemia Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, The National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), and Poshan Abhiyaan.
Way Forward
Given the disconcerting data on child malnutrition, it is vital to streamline health and nutrition programmes right from pregnancy till the child reaches five years. Implementing a comprehensive Social and Behavioural Change Communication strategy can address deep-seated behaviours and family traditions. Prioritising reduction of child undernutrition in the national agenda and ensuring effective monitoring is crucial for progress towards this goal.
