Nutrition plays a crucial role in the wholesome growth of a child—both physically and mentally. A balanced diet is recommended for children so that they do not suffer from cognition and immunity-based health hazards.
Children’s brains are capable of developing at a very fast cadence. Interestingly, by the time children reach a stage where they begin to attend primary school, their brains already progress at a very high pace compared to any other point in their life cycle. We frequently make use of the terms “growth” and “development” synonymously while discussing children growing up, but in fact, these are two very different qualities. Growth implies a quantifiable enlargement in dimensions of the body, such as height and weight; on the other hand, development implies the acquisition of perceptions towards surroundings, attitude, behaviour patterns, and socialising skills. Apart from growth and development, the third most crucial dimension is maturation, which refers to the progression of a child into adulthood at a certain time, depending on the sex of the child, and other biochemical factors. All three aforementioned dimensions of progress in children are facilitated by good nutrition.
When children are deprived of essential nutrients in food, they get malnourished or undernourished. Malnutrition is a state when an individual’s diet is not capable enough to make available sufficient nutrients required for optimal health. It can be due to a variety of underlying socio-economic reasons—low-income sources, difficulty in obtaining food, and other physical and mental health circumstances. Malnutrition severely affects growth, development, and maturity amongst children. In the 2020 Global Hunger Index report, India was ranked 94th out of 107 countries. India harbours more than one-third of the world’s malnourished children. 50% of children, below 5 years of age die because of sheer undernourishment. Most of these children belong to underprivileged and destitute families.
The Government of India considers the health of children an important concern. Hence, various central and state schemes are being executed in full swing, to eradicate hunger. They consist of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), National Children Fund (NCF), National Health Mission, Midday Meals Scheme, amongst many others. Under the government’s supervision, various steps have been taken in the direction of nutritional security amongst children and vulnerable citizens. These include setting up community kitchens, adding protein-rich supplements to the Public Distribution System, which includes pulses and millets, etc. Various Non Profit Organisations are also executing hunger annihilation projects in the same direction. It requires a partnership between all the entities involved in hunger annihilation in order to actually help the country progress.
The children of today become the powerful and progressive youth of tomorrow. They must be protected and nourished adequately. Our efforts as individuals must never fell short when it comes to the children of our country, and hence it is important to join forces and work together for a brighter future for our children. Food must always remain a fundamental necessity and not a luxury!
The writer is the Founder and President, Wishes and Blessings NGO.
