Aahaar Kranti Mission | 16 Apr 2021

Why in News

The Government has launched 'Aahaar Kranti', a mission dedicated to spread awareness about nutrition.

Key Points

  • About:
    • The initiative ‘Aahaar Kranti’ will focus on addressing the problem of hunger and diseases in abundance across India and the world.
    • The initiative will shine a light on the richness and value of India’s traditional diet, the miracles of local fruits and vegetables, and the healing powers of a balanced diet.
    • Organisations Involved: Pravasi Bharatiya Academic and Scientific Sampark (PRABHASS), Global Indian Scientists and Technocrats’ Forum (GIST), Vijnana Bharati (Vibha) and Vigyan Prasar (an autonomous body of the Department of Science and Technology) have come together to launch the mission ‘Aahaar Kranti’.
    • The motto of the Mission is “Uttam Aahaar- Uttam Vichaar or Good Diet-Good Cognition”.
  • Implementation Strategy:
    • The messages will be imparted through the curriculum in the form of `what’s and `why’s of nutrition, or through the forms of games or as instructions such as `how to’.
    • The content will be provided both online and offline, in all vernacular languages besides English and Hindi.
    • The programme will focus on training teachers, who, in turn, will pass on the message to the multitudes of students, and through them to their families and finally the society at large.
  • Significance:
    • The United Nations (UN) has also declared 2021 as the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables, which vibes very well with Aahaar Kranti.
    • Further, it is in line with the UN sustainable goal 3 that emphasizes human well-being.
    • It will help in applying the rich knowledge of Ayurveda-based nutrition to practice.

Performance of India on Global Hunger Index 2020

    • India has been ranked at 94 among 107 countries in the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2020.
      • With a score of 27.2, India has a level of hunger that is “serious”.
  • Performance on the Indicators:
    • Undernourishment: 14% of India’s population is undernourished (2017-19). It was 16.3% during 2011-13.
    • Child Wasting: 17.3% (2015-19), it was 15.1% in 2010-14.
    • Child Stunting: 34.7%, it has improved significantly, from 54% in 2000 to less than 35% now.
    • Child Mortality: 3.7%, it was 5.2% in 2012.

Source: PIB