The Hindu : New Delhi News : Concern over Government’s apathy towards malnutrition

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Monday, Apr 28, 2008
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Concern over Government’s apathy towards malnutrition

Staff Reporter

Comprehensive programme required to address food needs

“Can be best achieved through universalisation of ICDS”
“Growing influence of commercial entities in child nutrition”

NEW DELHI: The “Working Group On Children Under Six” has expressed concern over the fact that despite high levels of malnutrition among children in the country, the Government was responding to the issue in a tardy manner with “no sense of urgency and commitment”.

Recognising that malnutrition was a complex problem requiring complex solutions, the group has also urged the Government to implement a comprehensive programme to address the food needs of children and universalise a high-quality Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) programme without any further delay.

Child rights activist Devika Singh said: “A comprehensive programme for the protection of rights of children under six including their right to health, nutrition and development can be best achieved through universalisation of ICDS.”

Ms. Singh also expressed disappointment that many of the recommendations made by civil society organisations to improve the functioning of the ICDS programme were not reflected in the plans for restructuring the programme.

The working group has also expressed apprehension on the “growing influence of commercial entities in the area of child nutrition”. It pointed out that even while commercial lobbies were trying to occupy all space within official programmes on child nutrition, the Government had no well-formulated policy on food fortification or micronutrient supplementation or the specific terms of reference that should inform “public-private partnerships” in this area.

The group said despite these assurances many recent initiatives and developments have been very worrisome. The “Working Group For Children Under Six” is a joint effort of the Right to Food Campaign and Jan Swasthya Abhiyan. A large number of organisations, trade unions, people’s movements and non-government organisations from across the country are part of the Right to Food Campaign and the Jan Swasthya Abhiyan.

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