By India will do well to start an intense campaign to plant coconut, moringa (drumstick), jackfruit and avocado trees across the country. Except for coconut, these will go grow everywhere and go a long way in addressing our nutrition crisis.
India’s “Cereal” Problem
The excessive cereals consumed by most Indians in their food is a huge problem. In essence, this is true not only for rice and wheat but also for jowar, bajra, ragi, etc.
Move Over Swachh Bharat. It’s Time For Swasth Bharat
Swachh Bharat is good, but what we really need is a ‘Swasth Bharat’ campaign targeted at fixing our unhealthy and inadequate home-cooked food. Indian diets, both urban and rural, are deficient in protein, micronutrients, and healthy fats, while having excessive carbohydrates.
Protein And Micronutrient Malnutrition In Urban Indian Children
A very large percentage of children in urban India, including those from well to do families, suffer from nutrition problems. These problems are widespread in children across urban India, including in homes with adequate incomes, which have no food affordability concerns.
Food Security V/s Nutrition Security
India is a food surplus nation if we consider our large and growing production, as well as stockpiles of grain. In addition, grain is subsidised heavily for BPL (below poverty line) families. In some states, low income families can get grain for as low as ₹2 per kilo. So, except for