· Over 40% of the world’s underweight children below 5 years live in India.
· Close to 70% of children in India suffer from Iron deficiency.
· Prevalence of Low Birth Weight in India is about 30%.
· Malnutrition costs the nation approximately 4% of GDP in productivity losses.
· 55% of preschool children in India are underweight and 50% of preschool children in India are stunted.
· Poverty is a major cause but not the only cause of malnutrition. Percentage of population suffering from various forms of malnutrition far exceeds the percentage below poverty line.
Britannia, India’s leading Food Company created the Britannia Nutrition Foundation (BNF) with the belief that Every Child has a Right to Growth and Development which includes not just the Right to Food, but also the Right to Nutrition. The purpose of the BNF is to provide a forum for organizations and experts in diverse fields who share the same conviction, to find models and solutions for the multi dimensional nutrition challenge. Drawing from the commitment and knowledge of key experts in this area, BNF has evolved a strong framework for effective action by focussing on three pillars –
· Scientific knowledge building and dissemination
· Awareness building
· Creating a platform for action
The 2nd BNF symposium in 2010 brought together multi-sectoral experts from India & the world that not only raised the severity of Malnutrition in India, but also proposed solutions to combat the problem. It comprised of three sessions that focused on learning from success stories in other countries, understanding the science and research in malnutrition, and creating a platform for action in India. 19 experts from India and around the world came together to discuss the issues at hand and to share strategies and success stories that are illustrative of working models in various parts of the world. Experts shared stories from geographies such as Thailand, China, Brazil and Africa to illustrate roadmaps. The list of speakers included a key note address from the Nobel Laureate Prof. Robert W. Fogel, Director – Centre for Population Studies, University of Chicago Booth School of Business and an expert on people economics. It was discussed that the Malnutrition problem is a multi-sectoral problem and needs partnerships among the Public sector, the Private sector and the civil society at large.
Over the last year, Britannia Nutrition Foundation has progressed in its profound journey with small yet significant steps. BNF is extremely proud to join hands with the Karnataka Nutrition Mission towards the design and delivery of a food-based nutrition solution and a comprehensive Information, Education and Communication (IEC) program. BNF has adopted 2 villages in the state of Karnataka as part of this exercise. It is also committed to the development of a special food solution targeted towards the nutrition and protein energy needs of adolescent girls and women.
Britannia Nutrition Foundation believes that the efficacy of its malnutrition-targeted intent can improve manifold if delivered in association with public and governmental programs and through engaging with other organizations. Britannia made a commitment to the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) and was recognized for its work towards securing children’s right to growth and development through Good Food everyday by accelerating efforts to reduce micronutrient deficiency in Indian children through increasing availability and consumption of fortified food as well as driving awareness of nutrition, implemented with GAIN and other partners.
Britannia Nutrition Foundation continues to actively work towards scaling up pro-nutrition actions through various school feeding programs across the country. Today BNF engages with school-feeding programs through a wide spectrum of organizations and regions ranging from the Naandi Foundation and the Navjyoti Foundation to the Govt. of Chennai and the Govt. of Puducherry. In March 2007, Britannia developed a specially designed 5 mg Iron Fortified Biscuit, which in association with Naandi Foundation, Hyderabad and Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) Geneva, was used to supplement the Andhra Pradesh State Government’s midday meal program for 1.5 Lac school children in Hyderabad. The Britannia - Naandi - GAIN Partnership has been profiled as part of the GAIN – World Bank Institute (WBI) Case Study series titled “Business Innovation to Combat Malnutrition”.
Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Vinita Bali – Managing Director, Britannia Industries Limited and Chairperson of the Britannia Nutrition Foundation said, “Given the complexity of the Malnutrition challenge, it is imperative to drive co-ordinated action through multi-sectoral partnerships and programs. The 3nd BNF Symposium is an efficient and effective way to channelise productive dialogue and create a shared and common agenda, while respecting the diversity of views and experiences to combat Malnutrition”.
Mrs. Veena S. Rao – Former Secretary, Government of India with domain expertise in Malnutrition was also present at the event. On this occasion, Mrs. Veena S. Rao released the Britannia Nutrition Foundation special position paper on Malnutrition titled ‘Reducing Malnutrition in the Next Decade – Multi-Sectoral Stakeholders and Agents of Change’. Through the BNF position paper on Malnutrition, the cases for participation of multi-sectoral stakeholders and the need for a comprehensive intervention strategy were detailed out.
The following themes emerged as ones of utmost importance for an effective and comprehensive intervention strategy targeted at combating Malnutrition:
1. Planning and Design of Integrated programs through collaboration with various Government ministries
2. Measurement of Nutrition: Articulation of Key outcome indicators and inclusion of Nutrition sufficiency in overall development indices
3. Aggressive build-up in care and Nutrition interventions during the Critical ‘Window of Opportunity’ i.e. -9 to 24 months or formative years of the child
4. Addressing the problem of Malnutrition at various stages to break the Inter-generational cycle of Malnutrition and Ill health
5. Designing and Delivering Creative food-based solutions to make solutions both, broad-based and acceptable by the targeted individuals
6. Designing insightful and strong Communication and Campaign Approach to create awareness, seek participation and ensure compliance
7. Designing and Delivering effective Nutrition programs through Multi-sectoral Partnerships
8. Bringing a Change in Gender Equity and other Key Social Factors related to women
Political will, policy and governmental action need to be complemented by other sectors engaging with the issue of Malnutrition. This spectrum is wide and includes the Scientific and Knowledge building community, Private sector, NGOs, Developmental organizations and civil society. An attempt was also made to articulate the framework for drawing up the strategic contribution that each sector can make in impacting design, delivery and scale up of pro-nutrition programs:
1. Government and Policy makers – Central and State Governments can lead with the single most important thrust i.e. inclusion of Nutrition status and development as the most important development outcome for units and populations in their responsibilities. Apart from this, there is a direct need for them to recognize evidence-based nutrition solutions and provide resources and commitment to scale them up; in addition to creating regulatory frameworks that enable food-based solutions.
2. Scientific Community and Knowledge Building – There is a clear role to up-weight resources and expertise applied to building fundamental understanding of Nutrition Science, Nutrition status articulation, Frequent Measurement and evaluation of evidence-based nutrition interventions.
3. Private sector – The Private sector, especially the Food Industry can make a significant contribution by both, delivering nutrition through food products and helping build awareness for malnutrition by partnering in creation and delivery of communication programs to people at large.
4. Developmental organizations – It is noteworthy, that the Copenhagen consensus, 2008 identified Nutrition intervention and solutions, as having the best Return scenarios for resources. Several Developmental organizations, both International and Domestic have done commendable work in supporting Nutrition programs. Developmental organizations need to keep the momentum both, in terms of supporting key projects and creating platforms for action.
5. Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) – NGOs and Self-help groups working on ground have outstanding domain expertise in taking key messages and interventions to the grass roots. The discipline certainly needs more on-ground partners who can collaborate to build capacity for program delivery.
6. Civil Society and the Education Sector – The cause of Nutrition can find an extremely competent partner in individuals. Emerging India has, in recent history witnessed several cases where the Civil Society has taken a lead in generating greater interest and providing stimuli for change. World over, Nutrition has seen very encouraging build-up with improvement in overall education levels and specifically for Mothers/ girl children. Efforts in this direction must intensify for a multiplicative effect on combating malnutrition
The other experts who were present at the symposium included:
· Dr. Kamala Krishnaswamy – Former Director, National Institute of Nutrition
· Dr. Ajai Puri – Director, Britannia Industries Limited and a Global Nutrition Expert
· Dr. Patrick J. Stover – Scientific Advisor to the BNF & Professor and Director, Division of Nutritional Science, Cornell University
The answer to the Question “Why All Stakeholders need to Come Together to Combat Malnutrition?” is clear and evocative. Malnutrition in India has now reached serious proportions. The problem is both, immensely complex and multi-dimensional in nature. While on one hand, there is sufficient evidence that proven and successful approaches to counter the problem exist across the world and that nutrition interventions offer exceptionally high development returns; on the other hand, the costs of inaction — as measured by increased child mortality, compromised life chances and reduced economic productivity — are unacceptably high. The case therefore is compelling and calling upon each one of us to engage with the problem in every manner required and possible.
