Sunday, May 27, 2012
Monday, May 21, 2012
Malnutrition in India
Thu May 17, 2012 2:32 am (PDT)
Fighting Malnutrition ....VEENA S RAO
Interventions to fight malnutrition must be simultaneous with outcomes being monitored by an overarching body
The finance minister's Budget 2012 speech contains the much-awaited, much-needed paradigm shift in government's approach to reduce undernutrition and micronutrient deficiency, the indicators of which are fast qualifying India as the malnutrition capital of the world. It is now clear that high growth rates are not automatically translating into better nutritional indicators, though there is marginal improvement in infant and mortality indicators, as per SRS 2009. Finance minister has included "decisive intervention to address the problem of malnutrition, especially in the 200 highburden districts", as a priority objective in the preamble to the Budget speech, something unprecedented. It adds that "following the decision taken in the PM's National Council on India's Nutritional Challenges, a multi-sectoral programme to address maternal and child malnutrition in selected 200 high-burden districts, is being rolled out during 2012-13. It will harness synergies across nutrition, sanitation, drinking water, primary healthcare, women's education, food security and consumer protection schemes." Finally, the government has shed its Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)-centric approach on which it unrealistically relied for too long to reduce malnutrition, even though ICDS was an integrated development programme, and not one to eradicate malnutrition. A multi-sectoral strategy to reduce undernutrition must first remedy the causeintervention disconnect. What distinguishes undernutrition in India from that in other underprivileged societies is its inter-generational character; the calorieprotein-micronutrient deficit afflicting at least 40% of our population covering all age groups and both genders, brought out in NIN Technical Reports 20, 21, 22, about which we are still in a state of denial, and lack of awareness regarding proper nutritional practices, child and maternal care, care of the girl child throughout her lifecycle, gender discrimination, etc. These three immediate determinants that make undernutrition chronic must be articulated and addressed through a composite programme.
Thereafter, remaining multi-sectoral interventions, such as safe drinking water and sanitation, female literacy, that are already ongoing national programmers, should be accelerated and targeted to bring value added to interventions addressing immediate determinants. For example, safe drinking water and sanitation cannot bridge the protein calorie gap, but can bring a huge nutritional valueadded to dietary supplementation, by immediately reducing diarrhoea and infection, and preventing nutrition wastage. Similarly, female literacy, per se, cannot improve nutritional status, but it will delay age of marriage and child birth, provide better awareness and improve maternal and new-born health. An inter-sectoral strategy is not really a difficult exercise. Prof M S Swaminathan has done great service enumerating multi-sectoral essential interventions required to address undernutrition and micronutrient deficiency through the Coalition for Sustainable Nutrition Security in India chaired by him (May 2010). The challenge before the nodal ministry is to knit the interventions together into a composite, practical and implementable scheme that addresses at least a majority of the causes of undernutrition, and ensure that it captures and targets the 40% base of the pyramid. The interventions must be simultaneous so that the benefit of one intervention is not lost on account of the absence of another; and they must cover the entire lifecycle of women and children to create an immediate nutritional impact within one generation on the three critical inter-generational links of malnutrition, namely, children, adolescent girls and women. Only then can the benefits be sustainable enough to break the undernutrition cycle and pass on to the next generation. Integrating multi-sectoral programmes seamlessly requires coordinated and dynamic participation of the ministry of women and child development (MWCD), health and family welfare, food, agriculture, rural development, drinking water and sanitation, human resources development, panchayati raj and the state governments. Operationally, this requires not merely coordination, but mega coordination, between formidable ministries with substantive primary mandates of their own, to which nutritional outcomes have to be glued. Does the MWCD have the necessary clout to ensure this mega coordination and command adherence to nutritional outcomes from ministries whose prime objective is understandably to achieve their Plan scheme targets?
Only an authority overarching the concerned ministries, such as the Prime Minister's Office or the Planning Commission, can achieve this, and demonstrate the political will, provide policy direction and oversight, and demand results and accountability. This alone can galvanise administrative priority, innovation, efficient execution and the dexterity to overcome daunting bureaucratic procedures and operationalise inter-sectoral interventions at the grassroots, through community participation and inclusion. A high-level committee should be appointed by the Prime Minister's Council with the specific objective of drawing up an inter-sectoral roadmap to combat undernutrition and micronutrient deficiency in a time-bound manner with quantified, monitorable targets, robust monitoring mechanisms and accountability. The Karnataka Comprehensive Nutrition Mission has been designed on the above pattern, now being piloted in five blocks. To address protein deficiency in women and children, the finance minister has reduced basic customs duty on soya protein concentrate and isolated soya protein considerably. An important reason why undernutrition persists among the poor is because they have no access to low-cost protein-energy foods to supplement their inadequate diets, especially for healthy child growth, convalescence after sickness or diarrhoea, or providing extra calories required during adolescence and pregnancy. In this sector, the Indian market has a complete void. Field evidence confirms that farm labour families spend a week's wages to buy Horlicks for a sick or malnourished child. It is hoped that this incentive will motivate private sector participation in combating malnutrition by producing low-cost, protein-rich food for the poor, who need it the most.
(The author, a retired secretary to the government of India, is adviser to the Karnataka Nutrition Mission)
URL: http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=ETNEW&BaseHref=ETM/2012/05/17&PageLabel=17&EntityId=Ar01700&ViewMode=HTML Back to to
Food and nutrition crisis in Sahel region of Africa
A potentially catastrophic food crisis in the Sahel region of West and Central Africa could affect as many as one million children. The food and nutrition crisis resulting from a severe drought, threatens the survival of an entire generation of children. Those children in eight countries - Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger, Cameroon, Nigeria and Senegal - are at risk of severe acute malnutrition. Sparse rainfall, poor harvests and rising food prices have left many vulnerable and weak, seeking medical attention. Sahel is one of the poorest regions in the world where children already face daunting odds of survival. The current crisis makes their survival even more tenuous. Associated Press photographer, Ben Curtis, documented the conditions in the region. -- Paula Nelson
The Importance of having a healthy nutritious breakfast daily
You may not be the only one, as many people, who know the benefits of eating a healthy meal, still leave the house in the morning without having consumed a filling or adequate breakfast. Most people who skip breakfast or who eat an unhealthy one use either lack of time in the morning or weight watching as their excuse. We will explain further on in the article that skipping breakfast in order to lose weight is a total misconception that holds absolutely no truth and in fact the opposite is true, in that skipping breakfast, in some cases, could cause you to become overweight.
What happens to our body first thing in the morning? If you consider that when we wake up in the morning, for the majority of us, our body and brain have been without food for around 10 - 12 hours and for children it may be longer. Our body is similar to a car in the fact that it needs fuel to run, and like a car, the better you look after your body, the longer and better it will run. Our bodies must be fuelled several times each day so that we function efficiently and carry out our daily tasks as best we can. In the morning, after many hours without food, it is essential to refuel in order to provide the necessary nutrients and energy to get us through the first part of the day. Why is it important to fuel our brain? It is from our brain that messages are sent to other parts of the body to get them moving and working well. If our brain is not fed, it will act in a slow and sluggish manner, which will impact greatly on the rest of our body. The brain requires glucose or blood sugar to provide it with energy to function, whilst the muscles of our body need glucose to activate them and get the body working physically. To work and feel well, our blood sugar levels must be maintained at a certain level. After long periods without food, our blood sugar levels fall, causing tiredness and irritability amongst other symptoms that occur when you need food. The disadvantages of not having breakfast If you deprive your body of food in the morning you may find that you feel tired, dizzy and irritable and that your concentration is poor. It may take you longer to carry out tasks or you just might not feel up to anything mentally strenuous let alone physical. You will probably find yourself snapping at people unintentionally, especially if under stress and you will no doubt soon start to feel pangs of hunger as the morning wears on. If you don't eat anything in the morning, you will most likely find yourself craving something sweet to eat, as your body cries out for a quick fix to boost energy levels. If you are at work and it is not yet time for lunch, this is one of the moments when you may find yourself reaching for something very unhealthy such as a chocolate bar, croissant, cream cake or other unhealthy snacks. For those who are watching their weight, this is disastrous. It is also possible that you may become so hungry that you grab twice as many unhealthy snacks to eat before lunch or even end up eating all of your packed lunch by 11.30 am.
No breakfast does not equal losing weight Some people erroneously think that by skipping breakfast, they will reduce their calorie intake for the day and that it will help them to lose weight. Not only are you giving your body the worst possible start in the morning and putting it under unnecessary pressure, this is also not the case. Missing breakfast often leads to overeating at some point later on in the day, usually snacking on unhealthy foods, which are high in calories and fat. You may also become over hungry mid-morning and by lunchtime could end up eating twice as much than if you had eaten a healthy breakfast that released energy slowly throughout the day. Three healthy square meals or six smaller meals a day should keep you going throughout, without having the need to snack in between.
The disadvantages of not eating an adequate breakfast People who start the day with a strong, sweet cup of coffee and a croissant, Danish pastry or bowl of sugar-loaded cereal, may think that because they have eaten something, that they are starting the day well, and providing their body and brain with a good start to the morning. They may also wonder why, their energy boost doesn't last very long and why they are ravenous mid-morning even after having consumed breakfast first thing. This is because although they did make time to have breakfast, their breakfast choice was very poor. Caffeine, as we all know, gives you instant energy and many people feel that they cannot start the morning or even go through the day without at least several shots! In actual fact, caffeine produces adrenaline, which sends some of the body's stored glucose to the brain. Cereals high in sugar have very little nutritional value. When eaten their high amounts of sugar are released almost immediately into the bloodstream (sugar fix) and provide an instant energy boost. Together with the caffeine, blood sugar (glucose) levels rocket and energy levels soar. The downside of this effect is that the energy boost is extremely short-lived. As the pancreas responds to this surge of glucose, it produces insulin in order to bring the levels back down to a reasonable amount. This means that a few hours after this unhealthy breakfast, you are left feeling tired and hungry again and in need of another quick sugar fix.
The advantages of a healthy and nutritious breakfast After a good night's sleep and with an empty stomach in the morning, it makes sense that the best way to start the day and to energize and revitalize your body, is with a filling, nutritious and healthy breakfast that will keep you satiated until the next meal. Our body needs a healthy breakfast packed full of vitamins and nutrients whilst also providing energy and fuel for the brain. The best types of foods to be eaten at breakfast are complex carbohydrates such as whole grains including oats, rye bread and millet together with a small amount of dried fruit and freshly squeezed juice. These foods have a low GI (glycaemic index), which means that they release glucose steadily and slowly into the bloodstream, unlike the unhealthier breakfast choices mentioned earlier. Consequently, these foods will keep you fuller for longer, prevent unhealthy snacking, keep energy levels steady without dipping and provide you with essential vitamins and minerals that may be missed at other meals. Many people like to consume some form of protein in the morning, as protein balances blood sugar levels and recent studies have also proven that concentration levels are enhanced if some form of protein in consumed during the breakfast meal. Excellent sources of protein, which can be incorporated into the breakfast meal are eggs, fish, nuts and seeds. Eggs are a particularly rich source of choline (B vitamin), which the body converts into acetyl-choline, a neurotransmitter found in the brain. Studies show that adults and children who eat breakfast in the morning perform better at school and at work. It is proven that with breakfast, concentration and memory improve, mental performance and problem-solving ability is better and learning ability is increased. Not only this but studies generally prove that most people who eat breakfast manage their weight better, are not obese or overweight, have lower levels of cholesterol, which means they are less likely to suffer from heart disease and are generally in better health overall, not to mention in better mood. In children, their concentration and productivity at school is better and they are more creative, interested and alert. Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer. This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Canon pav Bhaji stall, D N Road, opp CST
25 years ago Canon Pav Bhaji Stall served the most delicious butterly pav bhajis with cashews and dried grapes mixed in with the sumptuous pav bhaji that was to die for. Oven the the years with labour unrest the stall owners took the co-operative route and reestablished the stall's august credentials after a brief shut-down. But the pav bhajis served were never the same. The taste has changed. The vegetable content appears to be dwindling and the masala is not prepared in the same manner either. Even e onions and tomatoes, potyatoes and other vegtables being used dont feel fresh enough. the standards may have come down quite a lot yet the stall still stands tall and has it's die-hard set of customers who trudge from all over Mumbai to have a taste of the manna they remember so well. it may just be nostalgia or it may be that the pav bhaji served is still amongst the best in Mumbai- and it doesn't matter much if it's own standards have come way down.There's always new customers to cater to-those who havn't had the good fortune to taste the pavbhaji in it's heyday.
Prevent food mountain turning into waste heap
Prevent Food Mountain Turning into Waste Heap ....ASHOK GULATI Urgent action is called for, to run down the 75-million-tonne grain heap that has been built by the government Grain stocks with state agencies are likely to cross 75 million tonnes some time in June 2012, while covered capacity to store is less than 50 million tonnes. The rest would be under CAP (with pucca or even kachcha plinths) exposed to potential large-scale damage. An early and rational policy decision is required to reduce the stocks by at least 7-10 million tonnes to avoid high costs of carrying and embarrassment of rotting grain in the coming monsoon season. For the first time in the country's history, grain stocks with public agencies are likely to cross 75 million tonnes. This gives a great sense of achievement and satisfaction to many. But when they see a sizeable part of this stock getting soaked and damaged in rain, it may take away their cheer and replace it with headache and disappointment. The reason is simple: of this 75 million tonnes, not more than 50 million tonnes can be kept under covered storage. While the quality of even covered storage at many places is questionable, the key issue staring us in the face is what will happen to the remaining 25 million tonnes that would be stored under CAP. How much of this would get damaged is anyone's guess. If we have to overcome this problem, we must first understand how we have reached this situation, and what should be done to solve it in the short, medium and long term. HOW DID WE ARRIVE AT THIS SITUATION? There are four key reasons that have led to this situation, and it is important to understand those for any rational policy decision, else the short-term solution may turn out to be only a temporary fix. .A benign nature, with good monsoon in the last four out of five years, has increased food grain production from 231 million tonnes in 2007-08 to 252 million tonnes in 2011-12. But demand for cereals is not increasing as fast, as dietary habits are moving away from cereals to proteinrich products and fruit and vegetables. . Export controls on wheat and rice for four years - wheat exports were banned in February 2007 and opened only in September 2011 - combined with good harvests has led to accumulation of stocks (see accompanying graphic). The capacity to store (with public agencies) has not increased commensurately. . Some state governments, most notably Madhya Pradesh, have announced a bonus on wheat to the tune of . 100 per quintal for the last three years, which has driven private sector out of the market and increased state procurement from less than two million tonnes in 2009-10 to more than six million tonnes (expected this year). Quite a bit of it is being kept even on kachcha plinths. Rajasthan has also followed this example this year and its procurement levels this Rabi Marketing Season, 2012-13, are estimated to be 194% higher than those of 2010-11, without any corresponding preparation on storage front. The spurt in procurement levels in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan is evident from the graphic. . Also, states like Punjab and Haryana have levied high rates of statutory levies on the marketing of wheat and rice: 14.5% in Punjab and 12.5% in Haryana. This has displaced private traders from the market and, literally, there is a state takeover in grain trade in these states. POLICY OPTIONS: WHAT IS THE WAY OUT? If we keep export window open, rice will keep getting exported. In 2011-12, India is expected to export 6.5-7 million tonnes of rice, becoming the second-largest rice exporter. It may repeat the same performance in 2012-13, thus taking care of excess rice stocks. But wheat is not exportable today as Russian and Ukrainian wheat last year pulled down wheat prices. Therefore, the real challenge is of reducing excess wheat stocks, which will be lying under CAP and exposed to potential damage. The following options may be worth considering: .The cost of carrying (storage and interest only) this extra stock works out to 20% of the minimum support price (MSP) of wheat. If one adds to that the potential damage of at least 5% of grain kept in the open (poor CAP conditions), the total cost would add to at least 25% of the MSP. This whole 25%, or a part of it, say, 20%, can be given as an incentive to state governments to take away wheat, and distribute through additional allocations under PDS at a price that is 20% below the MSP, but above the current issue prices under PDS. This would be a subsidy-neutral solution. But if the states don't lift at this price - they may feel that they can sell only at existing issue prices - then the finance ministry has to see how much additional food subsidy it can absorb in this year's budget. It should be realised that the first right on this grain should be of the poor in the country, and if it can be achieved without unduly putting an extra burden on the food subsidy bill (as the fisc is already in a precarious situation), then this would be the most ideal solution. The only thing that needs to be guarded is that this extra grain released through PDS is not recycled back to the FCI. So, the best timing would be from July 1, when procurement operations almost cease. . The first option can be combined with open-market sales of wheat at, say, 15% below the MSP. This would save the cost of carrying, storage and damage, and, in fact, help in lowering the subsidy bill. To ensure that it is not recycled back to the FCI, the government can get it converted into atta(wheat flour) and put it across all Kendriya Bhandars and district headquarters and, of course, in the open market at below the existing market prices. This would help bring down atta prices in the open market, rein in inflation and help lower the upcoming food subsidy bill. .The third option would be to export wheat by giving some suitable incentives (up to 15% of the MSP) to exporters in a WTO-compatible manner, say, through freight subsidy and by waiving off all statutory levies. If the rupee keeps depreciating the way it is, even this 15% incentive may not be necessary. This can help only in the short run. But to ensure that this problem does not recur, we must attack its root causes. And for that, we need to ensure the following: .The central government should clearly advise states such as Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan to not give any commodity-specific bonus, which distorts the all-India market and drives out the private sector. It would be better if these states used an income policy or preferably an investment policy (say, to promote irrigation) to help the farmers, which is cropneutral. If this does not work, FCI may have to think in terms of limiting its purchases from such states. . Last, but not least, it is time to rationalise statutory taxes and levies on primary commodities such as wheat and rice. Unduly high statutory levies in some states (14.5% in Punjab, 12.5% in Haryana and Andhra Pradesh, compared to just 3% in Gujarat) have not only hampered the efficient functioning of all-India market but also driven out much of the private sector from these states. This must be corrected either by ensuring that no state puts statutory levies more than, say, 5% of MSP - and compensating the revenue loss of those states through some other means - or asking FCI not to pay any levies more than 5% of MSP, or accepting CACP's recommendation of announcing MSP inclusive of all taxes and levies. This would go a long way to get the markets right, contain the subsidy bill and bring back private players in the grain markets, and reduce the burden of carrying large stocks with government agencies such as FCI, which are not equipped to handle 75 million tonnes, despite their best and honest efforts. But in the long run, if India really wants to physically handle 75 million tonnes or more through its public agencies, for its leaky public distribution system - which I personally feel is a suboptimal policy choice - it has no option but to invest heavily not only in modern storage, but also in modernising agri-markets and logistics. There is acute shortage of railway wagons at the time when grain needs to move from one state to another. Sustainable food security through public agencies cannot be achieved at a low cost. A delay in liquidating the current excess wheat stocks will pose a major problem of procurement of paddy in October later this year, and severely harm the interests of the farmer. (The author is chairman of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices. Views are personal) URL: http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=ETNEW&BaseHref=ETM/2012/05/10&PageLabel=13&EntityId=Ar01300&ViewMode=HTML
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