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India has made significant strides in achieving food self-sufficiency, primarily due to the Green Revolution, yet it continues to battle widespread malnutrition and hidden hunger. The Global Hunger Index 2023 ranks India 111th out of 125 countries, indicating the paradox of having sufficient food availability but lacking adequate nutrition. Issues like child stunting, wasting, and micronutrient deficiencies reflect the deeper challenges in the country’s nutritional landscape.

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Paradox of India’s Nutritional Landscape

• Unequal Access to Nutritional Foods: Despite achieving food self-sufficiency, large sections of society lack access to nutrient-rich food due to poverty and inequality.
  For example: According to NFHS-5, 35.5% of children under five are stunted, revealing chronic undernutrition despite food availability.
• Caloric Sufficiency but Nutrient Deficiency: India’s focus on caloric intake through staple foods like rice and wheat overlooks the need for micronutrients.
  For example: The Public Distribution System (PDS) primarily supplies cereals, lacking micronutrients like iron and zinc, crucial for preventing deficiencies.
• Lack of Dietary Diversity: Indian diets often lack variety, limiting intake of essential vitamins and minerals from fruits, vegetables, and proteins.
  For example: The Global Nutrition Report shows that 70% of Indian diets are cereal-based, with minimal intake of protein-rich foods or fresh produce.
• Inefficient Food Distribution Systems: While India has food surplus, logistical challenges prevent efficient distribution of nutrient-rich foods, particularly to rural and marginalised populations.
  For example: Reports from NITI Aayog highlight gaps in the supply chain that hinder equitable access to nutritious foods in remote regions.
• Urban vs. Rural Nutritional Divide: Urban populations often have better access to diverse food options, while rural areas face scarcity of nutrient-dense foods.

Challenges in Addressing Nutrition and Hidden Hunger

• Income Disparity: Poverty limits access to nutrient-rich foods, with many families unable to afford balanced diets.
  For example: According to NFHS-5 of 2019–2021, the prevalence of stunting among children in the poorest households was 42.54%, compared to 29.54% in the richest households.
• Lack of Awareness about Nutritional Needs: Many people, even in higher income groups, are unaware of the importance of balanced diets, leading to micronutrient deficiencies despite sufficient caloric intake.
  For example: Campaigns under Poshan Abhiyan aim to raise awareness, but gaps remain in educating all communities about nutritious diets.
• Gender Inequality in Nutritional Access: Women and girls, especially in low-income households, often receive lesser portions of food, exacerbating malnutrition and hidden hunger among females.
  For example: NFHS-5 shows that anaemia is widespread among 57% of women of reproductive age, largely due to nutritional neglect.
• Healthcare Infrastructure: Poor access to healthcare and nutrition services, particularly in rural areas, limits early detection and treatment of nutrient deficiencies.
  For example: According to NFHS-5, the vitamin A supplementation (VAS) coverage in India is low, reaching only 25% of children aged 12–35 months, indicating gaps in preventive health services.
• Inadequate Government Programs: Government programs like PDS and ICDS focus more on quantity rather than nutritional quality, leaving gaps in addressing micronutrient needs.
  For instance: PDS distributes cereals but lacks integration of nutrient-dense foods like pulses, eggs, or fortified foods that could address deficiencies.

Potential of Community-Led Nutrition Hubs

• Leveraging Local Knowledge: Community-led hubs use local agricultural knowledge to promote nutritious food sources, ensuring that solutions are sustainable and context-specific.
  For example: In some regions, nutrition hubs have promoted locally grown legumes and leafy greens, reducing malnutrition rates through increased dietary diversity.
• Promoting Balanced and Diverse Diets: These hubs encourage consumption of diverse foods, including vegetables, legumes, and animal products, vital for a balanced diet.
• Supporting Vulnerable Groups: Nutrition hubs focus on vulnerable groups like pregnant women and children, providing tailored nutritional support through fortified foods and supplements.
  For example: Fortified foods like iron-fortified wheat flour are distributed in community  hubs to reduce anaemia among women and children..
• Reducing Dependence on External Sources: By promoting local food production, nutrition hubs reduce reliance on external food supplies and encourage self-sufficiency within communities.
  For example: Kitchen gardens established by Anganwadi centres have improved access to fresh, nutrient-rich vegetables.
• Building Awareness through Education: Community hubs educate people on nutrition and balanced diets, helping reduce hidden hunger through improved knowledge and practices.
  For instance: Anganwadi workers have successfully trained mothers on preparing nutrient-rich meals using locally available ingredients, improving child nutrition rates.

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Whole-of-Society Approach to Enhance Food Security and Nutrition

• Improving Food Program Diversity: Government programs like PDS should include more diverse, nutrient-rich foods such as pulses, vegetables, and fortified staples.
  For example: The inclusion of fortified rice in the PDS has begun in several states, addressing iron deficiencies.
• Public-Private Partnerships: The private sector can contribute to food fortification and innovation in affordable nutrition products, boosting the overall nutritional landscape.
  For example: Companies like Tata Trusts are working on large-scale fortification of salt with iodine and iron.
• Grassroots-Level Community Involvement: Engaging communities through nutrition hubs and kitchen gardens can ensure locally sourced, affordable, and nutrient-dense food availability.
  For example: Community-based projects in states have reduced hidden hunger by promoting homegrown vegetables.
• Involvement of Local Governments: Local governments should fund and support nutrition hubs, ensuring they become integral to community development and health services.
  For example: Odisha’s model of community-managed nutrition hubs has successfully improved nutritional outcomes in tribal areas.
• Youth and Gender Inclusion: Ensuring youth engagement and gender equity in nutrition efforts can create sustainable change and intergenerational continuity in food security initiatives.
  For example: UNICEF‘s collaboration with youth groups in states has empowered young people to lead nutrition awareness campaigns in their communities.

While India has achieved food sufficiency, the challenge of hidden hunger and nutritional deficiency remains significant. Community-led nutrition hubs, supported by a whole-of-society approach, offer a sustainable solution by promoting local food systems, addressing nutritional gaps, and ensuring that nutritional security reaches all sections of society.

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