National Dairy Development Board For Nutrition’s (NFN) Giftmilk scheme sets up an excellent blue print to combat malnutrition among children. Examine (200 Words)
Refer - Financial Express
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IAS Parliament 5 years
KEY POINTS
Causes of Child Malnutrition
· According to the 2018 Global Nutrition Report, India accounts for more than three out of every 10 stunted children globally.
· Going by the National Family Health Survey-4 results, it appears 40% of our future workforce will be unable to achieve their full physical and cognitive potential.
· It is observed that the topmost milk-producing states of the country also happen to be high at incidence of malnutrition. This information necessitates urgent intervention by central and state governments.
· A common cause across all forms of malnutrition is a suboptimal diet.
· One feasible intervention that can tide over this situation is inclusion of milk in the feeding programmes for children in schools.
· Nutrient needs increase in adolescences to meet the demands of pubertal growth and brain maturation.
· Milk is an excellent source of several micronutrients such as calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B12, phosphorous, potassium, etc, which help make bones strong, increase immunity, and improve vision, cognitive and motor functions of the body.
· Therefore, milk, being a wholesome food, can play an important role in reducing malnutrition, if included in regular diets of the population.
· India is the largest producer of milk in the world, but people belonging to lower income groups cannot afford milk due to low purchasing power.
· Thus, children from lower income strata are deprived of essential nutrients to support their optimal physical and mental growth.
Gift milk Scheme
o So, The NDDB Foundation for Nutrition (NFN), a trust/society created by the National Dairy Development Board, has been facilitating distribution of fortified flavoured milk to children in select government/public schools across the country under its Giftmilk scheme.
o It runs by channelising CSR allocations of corporates. The NFN strives to provide pasteurised flavoured fortified (with vitamin A and D) milk under robust cold chain logistics to children. The quality of milk is maintained by creating a cold supply chain till it reaches the end-beneficiary.
o The NFN follows a robust implementation methodology, maintaining high transparency and accountability. Data is shared and monitoring is done at each level using MIS developed for tracking milk consumption.
o Giftmilk for students, mostly tribal, of government schools in Latehar district of Jharkhand started in 2017,
o Fortification also showed its effect in reducing visual impairment among children. The number of anaemic children decreased after regular consumption of milk, which may be attributed to good quality proteins provided by milk.
o There was a marked improvement in IQ levels, showing a positive impact on cognitive functions of children. Cumulative attendance increased by more than 10% in intervention schools.
o The impact study thus testified Giftmilk’s positive impact in addressing malnutrition through milk and also recommended to continue the programme for a minimum of three years for sustained benefits to children.
o The NDDB has been impressing upon state governments of major milk producing states for introduction of school milk programme in their states.
o Any initiative in addressing malnutrition through school milk programmes would benefit and transform lives of millions of children and help build a strong India.
@Pallavi 5 years
Please check and review
IAS Parliament 5 years
Try to include causes of malnutrition and the scheme addresses it effectively. Keep Writing
