श्रीमती के.के. शैलजा टीचर, बहूमानाप्पेट्टा आरॊग्य वकुप्पु मंन्त्री,
[Smt. K.K. Shylaja Teacher, Hon’ble Minister for Health, Social
Justice, Women and Child Development],
श्री.वि.एस. शिवकुमार,नियमसभा अंगंम [Shri V.S. Sivakumar, MLA],
श्री. बिजू प्रभाकर आई.ए.एस, स्पेशल सॆक्रटऱी, वनिता शिशू विकसनम्,[Shri Biju Prabhakar IAS, Special Secretary, Social Justice,
Women and Child Development],
श्रीमती टि. वि. अनुपमा आई.ए.एस, डयऱेक्टर, वनिता शिशू विकसनम्,[Smt. T.V. Anupama, Director, Women and Child Development],
प्रियसहोदरीसहोदरनमारे[Priya Sahodaree Sahodaranmare],
एल्लावरकुम्एन्टेनमस्कारम[Ellavarkkum Ente Namaskaram].
I am very happy to inaugurate the World Food Day celebrations, organized by the Women and Child Department, Govt. of Kerala.I am also glad to launch the संपूर्ण तलिका[Sampoorna Thalika]programme, which aims to reduce the non-communicable diseases, mainly diabetes mellitus.
Today also marks the culmination of the observance of Poshan Month, which had begun in Kerala on 17th September, soon after Onam.
At the outset, let me compliment all the Departments which have joined hands to organize this significant programme.
We are celebrating Loka Bhakshya Dinam --World Food Day - this year, with the aim of Achieving Zero Hunger. The 16th of October, which recalls the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 1945, also reminds us of our obligation to make healthy and sustainable diets affordable and accessible to everyone.
Today, I am reminded of a popular saying in Malayalam : अन्नविचारम्मुन्नविचारम्, कार्यविचारम्पिन्नविचारम् [Anna Vichaaram Munna Vichaaram, Kaarya Vichaaram Pinna Vichaaram].It means, thoughts about Food deserve our top priority; thoughts about other matters can wait.
Food is a basic requirement as well as right of every living being. It is therefore not surprising that every nation gives utmost importance to its efforts to achieve food security and self sufficiency.
As we all know, all faiths in India tend to see Food as divine, or God given. The law of Karma is often explained through the belief that on every food grain is inscribed unseen, the name of the one who would consume it : Daane Daane par likha hai Khane wale ka Naam.
But, today’s global reality points to the plight of millions of people whose names don’t figure on the food grains. India, too, was once home to starving millions, but concerted efforts have helped to reduce this number considerably in recent years. Currently, India has one of the fastest rates of poverty reduction in the world, with the United Nations acknowledging that between 2006 and 2016, India could lift over 271 million people out of abject poverty.
The provision of adequate nutrition has been a key factor in our mission of poverty reduction.
It is here that flagship schemes like National Nutrition Mission, better known as POSHAN ABHIYAAN gains relevance. Launched with the aim of preventing and reducing stunting, under-nutrition, anemia etc., it has been covering adolescent girls, pregnant women, lactating mothers and above all, children below 6 years. The expectation is that it would benefit over ten crore people.
I am happy that Kerala has been implementing this scheme very effectively through the Sampushta Keralam initiative. What is most important is that this scheme lays the foundations of a healthier India, through a comprehensive targeting of our mother and child population.
The future of the entire world depends greatly on the health and welfare of children, who are the citizens of the future. That Kerala has internalized the significance of child welfare, is evident from the levels of progress achieved by the State in the areas that directly concern our children.
For instance, Kerala has one of the lowest infant and maternal mortality rates. Our school education has been rated by Niti Aayog as the best in the country. I am sure that in Child Nutrition also, Kerala will soon script a success at par with the most advanced societies, not just of India, but of the entire world.
Regular supply of authentic information and keen monitoring are critical to the success of any scheme. I am happy that various departments like Social Justice, Women and Child Development, Health etc are working in unison in these key areas, utilizing mobile devices and technology applications to augment the Anganwadi Service Delivery and to improve the nutrition outcomes through effective monitoring and timely intervention. I hope the Sampushta Keralam Newsletter, which has been launched, will regularly convey nutrition information to more than 33000 Anganwadis in the State.
On World Food Day, we should also ponder over some of the global contradictions in relation to Food.
On one side, we see dedicated efforts by various organizations to ensure a certain level of Anna Swaraj, on the lines of Gandhiji’s Gram Swaraj which highlighted the relevance of self sufficiency in food production at the local level. We also see a trend towards Food Imperialism, nurtured by multi nationals engaged in food processing. The demands of the Food Processing industry tend to misdirect our concept of what is healthy and nutritious.
Such imperialism has to be countered through the creation of awareness about traditionally nutritious food and about the need for genome protection of our own crops which have stood the test of time. We also need to be cautious about the presence of toxic pesticides and chemicals in our food items, for which our Food Safety standards and monitoring have to be doubly strengthened.
Again, India began with Food shortage, moved to Food Surplus and then to Food Wastage, which is unfortunate.
You may recall that today, I began by mentioning Anna Vichaaram. However, let me remind that our Anna Vichaaram should also extend to the problems of wastage and more importantly, Obesity.
Today, more people suffer from Obesity than hunger and we need to popularize healthy and diverse food. I am glad to see Kerala’s Sampoorna Thalika giving the clear message that our Munna Vichaaram should be for a balanced, healthy and poison- free nutrition.
I compliment all the departments and the hundreds of officials, volunteers and Anganwaadi workers who strive to help Kerala achieve better levels of health and nutrition inour women and children. Undoubtedly, it is nation building at its best.
एल्लार्वकूम् आहारम्। एल्लार्वकूम् पॊषणम्। एल्लार्वकूम् आरॊग्यम्।
अतिलूडे, संपूर्ण राज्य पुरोगति।
अताणु लॊक भक्ष्य दिनम् नल्कुन्ना संदेशम्।
लोका: समस्ता: सुखिनो भवन्तु ।
[Lokah: Samasta: Sukhino Bhavantu]
Valare Nanni
Jai Hind
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