Scaling up fortified and diversified foods in social safety net programs in India
2020-2022
Nutrition International is helping state governments in India increase the availability of fortified foods in their social safety net programs (SSNPs), improving access to critical micronutrients for those who need them.
India’s public distribution system is the largest in the world.
Despite some progress in addressing malnutrition, India faces a high burden of anaemia, with more than half of women of reproductive age affected. According to the 2020 Global Nutrition Report, 34% of children under five are stunted and 17% are wasted, higher than the regional average. Malnutrition can prevent brains from developing fully, bodies from growing properly, immune systems from working effectively, and can lead to an increased, lifelong risk of disease and disability.
India’s public distribution system reaches 813.5 million people. Along with the country’s other social safety net programs, these platforms present a promising delivery mechanism to provide food and nutrition to under-served populations with increased nutritional needs, particularly women and children.
Leveraging India’s social safety net programs to reach millions of people with improved nutrition.
Folate/Folic Acid
Iodine
Iron
Vitamin A
We will provide guidance and technical advice, and generate evidence to support governments in improving and scaling up the inclusion of double-fortified salt (DFS) and rice fortification programs within their SSNPs.
Through this project we will:
Successful implementation will serve as a model for other state governments to introduce fortified foods into their own social safety net programs.
The impact
Reaching more people with critical micronutrients
Through this project, we will provide guidance and technical advice, and generate evidence to support the governments of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh to improve and scale up the use of double-fortified salt and rice fortification programs within their SSNPs. Success will serve as a guide for other states to introduce fortified food into their own distribution programs, ensuring more people will have access to the nutrition they need.
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