MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (DR. AKHILESH PRASAD SINGH)
(a)&(b) : Yes, Sir. As per information received from the Council of Scientific & Industrial
Research (CSIR), New Delhi, an International Symposium on `Building Leadership Skills
in Food and Nutrition essential for National Development` was held at Central Food
Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysore during 23rd to 25th June, 2006. The
symposium focused on capacity building in food and nutrition with the technical
presentations by distinguished professionals, both international and national.
(c)&(d):The Government is providing financial assistance under Training, Research and
Monitoring (TRM) Scheme for imparting training to the people involved in the functioning
of the Targetted Public Distribution System (TPDS). The training course is intended for
functionaries of various levels in the State Food and Civil Supplies Department, State
Agencies, field offices, Members of Vigilance Committees, members of the Panchayat Raj
Institutions (PRIs) and reputed NGOs.
As per information received from Food and Nutrition Board (FNB), Ministry of Women
and Child Development, A number of Government departments, national Institutions
and NGOs are making efforts for capacity building in food and nutrition. The Food and
Nutrition Board undertake orientation training of programme managers and field
functionaries of the concerned sectors in food and nutrition by organizing Training of
Trainers Courses, Orientation Training Courses and Training in Home Scale Preservation
of Fruits and Vegetables and Nutrition. The Master of Science degree in Food and Nutrition
is imparted by various Home Science Colleges in the Country. Agricultural universities also
have a programme of higher education in Food and Nutrition under which M.Sc degree in
Food and Nutrition is awarded. There are more than 100 such colleges in the country.
The National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD) under
the aegis of the MWCD is an apex body for training different level functionaries under
the Integrated Child Development Services scheme on various food, nutrition and health
issues. The National Institute of Nutrition at Hyderabad under the aegis of Indian Council
of Medical Research is undertaking both formal and non-formal courses for training in
nutrition. The Nutrition Foundation of India (NFI) and Breastfeeding Promotion Network
of India (BPNI) the established NGOs are also organizing training programmes in various
aspects of Food and Nutrition.
(e)&(f) :`Capacity building for nutrition action` is one of the recommendations of the
Working Group on Integrating Nutrition with Health for the XI Five Year Plan constituted
by the Planning Commission under the chairpersonship of the Secretary (WCD), the report
of which has been submitted to the Planning Commission on 1st November, 2006. However,
with a view to reduce hunger, poverty and malnutrition, and maintaining food security in
the country, the Government is already allocating subsidized foodgrains for Below Poverty
Line, Antyodaya Anna Yojana and Above Poverty Line families under Targeted Public
Distribution System and implementing many food based welfare schemes viz. Mid-day-Meal
Scheme (MDMS), Wheat Based Nutritional Programme (WBNP), Nutritional Programme for
Adolescent Girls (NPAG), National Food for Work Programme (NFWP), Sampoorna Gramin
Rojgar Yojana (SGRY), Special Component of SGRY, Annapurna Scheme, Village Grain Bank
Scheme etc.
