Critical Analysis of National Nutrition Policy and Strategies of India

Major Research Paper (Master's), Health, Faculty of Health, School of Health Policy and Management, York UniversityAbstract Global malnutrition and food insecurity are rising. The root cause of both malnutrition and food insecurity is poverty. Despite a remarkable increase in food production, developing countries show alarming rates of child malnutrition. India is a good example of this dichotomy. The country that harbours one-third of the world’s malnourished children is also one of the world's largest food grain exporters. Moreover, India has had the world’s most extensive government funded nutrition intervention programs.A National Nutrition Policy (NNP) was enacted in 1993, one of the earliest submitted in response to the World Health Organization’s call for countries to develop a NNP. India’s poverty reduction strategy and food policy are also aligned with NNP. Nevertheless, despite these massive initiatives, India’s nutrition problem remains a major public health concern. India’s nutrition problems and national nutrition programmes are generalizable to other agro based South East Asian developing countries.This study’s objective was to explain why nutrition policy and strategies failed to address malnutrition in India. A critical discourse analysis approach was used to show textual and contextual dimensions of government policy documents in relation to the neoliberal policy and practice. A political economy lens was employed to illustrate the global food politics context perpetuating persistent hunger and child malnutrition. The study revealed that India’s recent National Nutrition Strategy and National Nutrition Mission does not adequately address the lack of quality protein, fruits and vegetables and that the heavy reliance on grain is due to the government's sole support of rice and wheat production. The study also revealed that transnational agro-industries, international banking and donor organizations heavily influence India’s food and agriculture policy. Finally, it identified a shift in the policy, from challenging neolibera