Urgent Call for Nutritional Security: Addressing Malnutrition in ViksitBharat@2047

With India's election campaign reaching a crescendo amid soaring temperatures, many pollsters anticipate the current government's reelection. Notably, the Narendra Modi administration has instructed ministries to draft proposals for initiatives they intend to unveil in the initial 100 days of their third term. Ministries are reaching out to experts to develop policy frameworks aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047. we need to move beyond simple food security to nutritional security. Our malnutrition numbers, especially for children below the age of 5, are horrifying. With stunting today at 35 per cent, how would they make an efficient labour force for Bharat@2047? For this to improve, besides sanitation, women's education and immunisation, we also need to fortify our staples with micro-nutrients. The government has made a beginning with zinc-rich rice and wheat, but why is it shying away from golden rice with beta carotene (Vitamin A rich), when Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the US have declared it safe, and even Bangladesh and Philippines have allowed its trials? Rice is our first crop, and most of those children who are malnourished today consume a lot of rice. This needs to be fortified with high nutrition.