Nutrition International calls for focus on nutrition security beyond food security in India

New Delhi: Aiming to address India’s triple burden of malnutrition—undernutrition, overnutrition, and micronutrient deficiencies—Nutrition International launched a policy brief called ‘Enhancing Nutrition Outcomes through India’s Social Safety Net Programs: Opportunities and Way Forward.’

The brief highlighted the need for a paradigm shift in social safety net programs (SSNPs) from ensuring food security to achieving comprehensive nutrition security.

The event in New Delhi brought together stakeholders, including government officials, nutrition experts and development organisations, to discuss actionable strategies for embedding nutrition-sensitive approaches into existing programs.

Reimagining social safety nets

India’s SSNPs, such as the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman and POSHAN 2.0, collectively cater to over a billion people. While these programs have reduced food insecurity, their focus on nutritional outcomes remains limited.

“These programs have been very successful in ensuring food security. Now they must go beyond delivering food and work towards fostering nutrition security, aligning with local needs and fostering community ownership,” said Dr Subba Rao, head of the Nutrition Information, Communication and Health Education (NICHE) Division, ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition.

A plan to bridge nutritional gaps

To bridge the gap in nutritional development, the policy brief proposes a roadmap focusing on five critical pillars:

1. Policy Reform: Targeting high-burden geographies with tailored strategies.

2. Program Performance: Diversifying food baskets to include nutrient-rich options.

3. Evidence Building: Creating robust monitoring frameworks and actionable data.

4. Financing: Allocating resources for nutrition-sensitive interventions.

5. Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC): Using platforms like self-help groups to promote nutrition awareness.

The 5As of achieving nutrition security

Dr Subba Rao elaborated on the ‘5As’ of nutrition security: availability, accessibility, affordability, accommodation (offering the right food options) and acceptability (ensuring cultural alignment).

“Clearer communication and stronger collaborations hold the key to converting successful food security programs into meaningful nutrition security programs,” he added.

Experts suggest nutrition-focused messaging, working through self-help groups

Mini Varghese, country director at Nutrition International, highlighted the growing recognition of nutrition-sensitive interventions in social safety nets.

“With growing investments in social protection and a shift toward making these programs more nutrition-sensitive, there are new opportunities to better connect health, nutrition, food systems and economic services to support the most vulnerable populations,” she said.

The event also included a panel discussion titled ‘Turning Recommendations into Actions: Achieving Nutrition through Social Protection Programs.’

Panellists stressed embedding nutrition-focused messaging, leveraging community resources like self-help groups and fostering cross-sector collaborations. They also emphasised the potential of technology to improve nutrition tracking and suggested scaling successful pilot projects for broader impact.

Global expertise for local solutions

The policy brief was a result of Nutrition International’s research across 12 countries in Asia and their 30 years of experience in the nutrition sector. The organisation collaborates with governments worldwide to implement cost-effective, high-impact nutrition interventions.

“Nutrition International nourishes people to nourish life,” a representative said, reiterating their commitment to combating malnutrition globally.

With a clear framework and actionable recommendations, the policy brief sought to transform India’s food-centric safety net programs into comprehensive tools for nutrition security, ensuring long-term health benefits for its most vulnerable populations.