National Conclave Calls For A Nutrition Revolution In India

The IntraHealth-led Vistaar Project recently supported the three-day National Nutrition Conclave (NNC) in Chennai, India, held August 12–14. The timing of the conclave commemorated India's 60th year of independence and Mahatma Gandhi's vision that an independent India would make eliminating hunger a foremost priority.

Health surveys in India indicate that malnutrition remains critical. According to the third National Family Health Survey (2005–06), 46 percent of children below age three are undernourished, while 79 percent in this age group and 70 percent of pregnant women are anemic.

Around 100 conclave participants represented the Union Government, several state governments, the United Nations and bilateral agencies, academia, the private sector and NGOs. The conclave focused on coming up with new strategies and producing a short list of priority actions for improving nutrition security in India.

The conclave was held at the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), which co-sponsored the meeting along with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and USAID, the funder of the Vistaar Project. It was also supported by the Union Ministries of Health and Family Welfare and Women and Child Development.

Prof. M.S. Swaminathan, the pioneer of the Green Revolution in India and chairman of MSSRF, emphasized the need for synergy among public policy, health care, education and sanitation to bring about a significant improvement in nutrition levels. "Nutrition is the first among a human being's needs," he said. "The right to food is a fundamental right. Nutritional awareness and literacy are extremely important in this country."

Conclave organizers used Open Space Technology, a participatory meeting methodology, to facilitate creative thinking. Participants noted that the conclave generated more energy and enthusiasm than conventional meetings and fostered a new sense of unity in the nutrition community.

After prioritizing recommendations, participants issued the "Chennai Declaration" (ch_dec.pdf) on August 14. The declaration calls for a nutrition revolution featuring increased national attention to nutrition, a unified nutrition strategy for children under two, unified nutrition messages for a major nutrition education campaign and the preparation of a white paper to outline more comprehensive actions. The three sponsors of the conclave are also aligning with other interested groups and individuals to form a Coalition for a Nutrition-Secure India.

For more information contact: Mr. Laxmikant Palo, Knowledge to Practice advisor, The Vistaar Project (e-mail: lpalo@intrahealth.org; Phone: 011-46019999). You can also find more information in the Vistaar press release here: vistaar_PR.pdf. Or download the NNC Final Report here: nncfinalreport.pdf