Dr Banarsi Lal
Every year the first week of September (1-7 September) is commemorated as the National Nutrition Week (NNW) across India. The objective of celebration of this week is to create awareness among the general public about the importance of healthy eating practices and proper nutrition for upholding a healthy lifestyle. Various programmes are organized by the different organizations to create awareness on balanced nutrition. The theme of 2021 National Nutrition Week was ‘Feeding Smart Right from Start’ and the theme of this year (2022) National Nutrition Week is ‘Celebrate a World of Flavors’. The main aim is to make people have sufficient nutrition while enjoying the different flavors of Indian cuisine. It can help to prevent various chronic diseases and improve the quality of life for people with diabetes and other non-communicable diseases. It is important for the individuals to remain fit and healthy by eating nutritious food and maintaining healthy lifestyles. Different diet pattern should be accorded to the different age groups of people. Throughout the week the public is informed about the basic phenomenon of balanced diet. A balanced diet full of essential nutrients is must for a healthy life. Good nutrition, wholesome food and a healthy lifestyle is emphasized during the programmes. Nutrition Week was first observed and marked by the American Dietetic Association (ADA) (now known as Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics) in March, 1975. In 1982, first time the National Nutrition Week was launched in India. There is need to demonstrate healthy and nutritious recipes with different flavors for children during the programmes. The millets based products needs to be popularized during the week. Masses should be educated about the biofortified varieties of different crops. Poster competitions on importance of millets and flavors are also conducted in the schools during the week. Nutri gardens should be promoted among the farm women and quality vegetables seed kits are also provided to them. Anganwari centers use the slogans on balanced diet and importance of millets to create awareness among the masses. Webinars, seminars, conferences, workshops etc. are also organized to create awareness among the masses on the importance of nutritious food. Extensive use of mass-media, such as print media, social media, various virtual meetings etc are adopted to educate masses on the balanced diet and importance of masses. Activities such as identification of children with severe acute malnutrition and plantation drive for nutri-gardening should be focused during the week. These activities can be executed by the different organisations. Complications can be minimized by the early detection of malnutrition in the children. Millets, fruits and vegetables are the rich source of nutrients and their regular consumption can help us to keep healthy and fit. Intake of different millets, turmeric, ginger, citrus etc help us to boost the immunity in our body. In September, we generally initiate the process for winter vegetables and plantation derive for the nutri gardening is encouraged during the month. Winter vegetables crops such as carrot, cabbage, cauliflower, radish, Knol-khol, turnip etc. can be sown in this month. These vegetables can be grown organically by using the organic inputs and make them chemical free. Nutri gardens can also be developed in the Angadwari Centres, schools, Government offices and even in urban areas. In urban areas roof top vegetables gardening can be promoted among the urban areas dwellers. Whatsapp messages, video conferences and home visits can be made by the experts to provide the technical knowhow on roof top vegetables gardening. For this purpose Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) can play a significant role in imparting the technical knowledge. Essay competitions on malnutrion, anemia, sanitation, kitchen gardening etc. can also be organized among the school children by the various organizations to promote the balanced diet and millets among the masses. Nutrition related problems in the rural areas need to be identified and solutions need to be provided to the people. For this purpose Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) can also be utilized effectively to disseminate the message on balanced nutrition. The farmers and women farmers should also be involved in the programmes on balanced nutrition and importance of millets. Media can play a significant role in the disseminating the message of balanced nutrition among the masses. Discussion and talk show can also be organized at various local TV and radio channels by involving the experts and local people. The services of doctors, scientists, local women farmers etc. can be utilized effectively to disseminate the message on balanced nutrition. Under-nutrition is the major cause of mortality and morbidity among the children under the age of five years. Although India has made remarkable progress in economic, social and political fields after independence but still there is need of strenuous efforts to reduce malnutrition in the country. There is dire need to focus on nutrition as nutrition is the basic facet of human life. A well-nourished society is helpful for the long-term economic development. There are number of benefits of investing on proper nutrition as proper nutrition helps to control diseases, reduces infant and maternal mortality, empowers women, improves worker productivity and increases the learning capacity of the students. Government of India is endeavoring for improving the status of nutrition in India on priority basis. Malnutrition is one of the widespread problems in India. Numerous children are undernourished and they do not receive sufficient nutrition required for a good health. The obese people are also increasing. Under-nutrition occurs due to multiple factors. It is a burden that hampers us to achieve our desired goals. In order to become a global power India needs to eradicate the malnutrition so that our present and future generations can be healthy and more intellectual. A country can prosper when its people are healthy and fit. Different Ministries/Departments at the Centre and States/UTs deal with different interventions required for reduction of malnutrition across the nation. There is need to augment a synergized approach to eradicate the menace of malnutrition. There is also need to bring change in the behaviour of the people and a multi-pronged strategy needs to be adopted to create mass scale awareness on the importance of balanced nutrition and millets. For this purpose awareness programmes, involvement of mass media and outdoor campaigns need to be conducted regularly by involving all frontline functionaries, Self Help Groups (SHGs),Non Government Organisations (NGOs) etc. We all need to make joint efforts to eliminate the menace of malnutrition.
(The writer is Head, KVK Reasi SKUAST-J).