Cabinet approves National Nutrition Mission

In a move to target the problem of malnutrition, stunting and low birth weight babies, the Union Cabinet has approved setting up of National Nutrition Mission (NNM) with a three year budget of Rs 9046.17 crore commencing from 2017-18, the government said today.

There is no dearth of schemes directly/indirectly affecting the nutritional status of children (0-6 years age), pregnant women and lactating mothers but the level of malnutrition and related problems in the country is high.

The National Nutrition Mission will create synergy to achieve the common goal through a robust convergence mechanism.

The NNM will be an apex body, which will monitor, supervise, fix targets and guide the nutrition related interventions across various Ministries.

The proposal consists of mapping of various schemes contributing towards addressing malnutrition, introducing a very robust convergence mechanism and an ICT based Real Time Monitoring system.

It will create synergy, ensure better monitoring, issue alerts for timely action, and encourage states/Union Territories to achieve the targeted goals, the official statement said.

"Like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, the National Nutrition Mission is a momentous step. Our government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modiji is striving hard to produce 'Suposhit Children'," Maneka Gandhi, Minister of Women and Child Development said on Friday.

Our three-pronged plan to curb malnutrition is to provide nutritious food, check quality of delivery and monitor the system, Gandhi added.

Implementation strategy of the Mission would be based on intense monitoring and convergence Action Plan right upto the grass root level.

"ASHA, ANM and Anganwadi workers will work together as part of the intervention strategies under National Nutrition Mission to address malnutrition issues. There will be group performance-based incentives for them," JP Nadda, Minister of Health and Family Welfare said on Friday.