Reduce under-nutrition by 2022: PM to officials

New Delhi, Nov 25: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while reviewing progress made to prevent and reduce under-nutrition, has told the officials that visible and measurable results should be seen by 2022, the 75th anniversary of Independence.

The high level review meeting which took place on Friday was attended by officials from PMO, NITI Aayog and other Ministries. The PM stressed on the need to work towards concrete objectives to reduce stunting, under-nutrition, low birth weight, and anaemia. The current status of malnutrition, stunting and related problems was reviewed and successful nutrition initiatives in some other developing countries came up for discussion. Towards this end, real-time monitoring towards progress of nutrition outcomes was discussed, especially in the worst performing districts. Senior officials emphasised that initiatives of the Union Government such as Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Mission Indradhanush, Beti Bachao - Beti Padhao, and Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana were having a positive impact on nutrition. In this context, the Prime Minister called for convergence among all schemes of Union and State Governments, which directly or indirectly have an impact on nutrition outcomes. He said raising social awareness towards the importance of nutrition is necessary, to achieve the desired results. He stressed on the importance of using informal channels to generate this awareness. UNI