2. *Logo credit: AYUSHI KUSHWAHA
YUMIKO,the Japanese term which literally
means a beautiful child, talks about
Malnutrition in the country which shelters
one of the largest child population in the
world. Before talking in detail about
Malnutrition, a doubt might arise in your
mind about the name of the project. A child
is a beautiful being, which is blessed with
incomparable beauty, both literally and
figuratively, and that this beauty is easily
perishable if proper care is not provided.
Malnutrition, the subject of our project, if
left unchecked devours a child’s beauty.
This is the essence of the name Yumiko.
3. ”People are malnourished if
their diet does not provide
adequate calories and protein
for growth and maintenance
or they are unable to fully
utilize the food they eat due
to illness (undernutrition).
They are also malnourished
if they consume too many
calories (overnutrition).”
-UNICEF
MALNUTRITION
47% of India’s
children under
three are
Malnourished
At least half of
Indian infant
deaths are
related to
Malnutrition
Every year, 17
million children are
born undernourished
due to a mother’s
lack of nutrition
before and during
pregnancy.
5. NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF CHILDREN: SAARC & BRIC COUNTRIES 2000-7
SOURCE: The State of the World’s Children Report, UNICEF 2009.
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
LOW BIRTH WEIGHT
UNDER 5 UNDERWEIGHT
CHILDREN
WASTING
STUNTING
STATEMENT OF FINANCE
All the issues related to Child Malnutrition would exclusively be covered by PROJECT YUMIKO. It has been proposed that the existing
policies and schemes for Prevention of Child Malnutrition viz. Mid-Day Meal, ICDS, Anganwadi and even schemes for children under PDS
and Food Security Bill will be merged into our Project. Their functions will be modified accordingly so that various lacunas of the existing
schemes could be filled. The funds of these schemes will directly transfer to our project. For example, the Mid-Day Meal Scheme Fund is
around Rs.2583.21 Cr.( in 2013-14) and the ICDS fund is around Rs.110500 (in thousands). Hence, through the merger system, the already
existing but scattered funds will be brought together under a common head ‘YUMIKO’ and therefore our Project will not create any extra
financial burden on the Exchequer of Government of India and Current Account Deficit.
For the remaining funds we will use the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility. As per the rules companies are bound to spend 2% of
PAT (profit after tax). But there is massive underutilisation of CSR funds. For instance, the 2% of PAT of top 10 companies of India was
14,670 mn. out of which less than half (only 6,890 mn.) was used. Therefore, our project is ensuring optimum utilisation of available financial
resources.
6. THE ENTIRE STATE SHALL BE DIVIDED ACCORDING TO THE POPULATION AND
NUTRITIONAL NEEDS OF THE PARTICULAR AREA WHICH SHALL BE KNOWN AS BLOCK.
EACH BLOCK WILL HAVE THE ABOVE THREE SUB-COMMITTEES.
CENTRE COMMISSION FOR ERADICATION OF MALNUTRITION
This particular commission shall be established under Article 47 of the constitution which
gives the State the duty to raise the Nutritional Level, Standard of Living and Public
Health in the country. This commission will include 7 members -The Union Health
Minister, eminent persons from social, economic backgrounds, and medical experts. The
commission will be the nodal agency for coordination among various states and the
supervision and planning of the whole project.
STATE COMMISSION
Each state and Union territory of the country will ensure that there is
establishment of such commission which will make sure that the project is
effectively carried out throughout the nation. This commission shall be
responsible for establishing blocks and laying out proper statistics. This
commission shall have 11 members - The State Health minister, Nutritionists,
Eminent personalities from social background, Economic analysts.
TRAPTI: FFED THE POOR
COMMITTEE
Supervise all block level feed
the poor committees
AHWAAN: AWARENESSS AND
MATERNITY CARE COMMITTEE
Supervise all block level Ahwaans
DHANWANTARI: SCHOOL
MEDICAL OFFICERS COMMITTEE
Supervise all block level Dhanwantaris
7. RESEARCH WING: Research and analyse the number of malnourished children in the block and their locations, their
specific nutrition requirements and on the basis of which it will give suggestions to the other sections of Feed of The Poor
Committee.
EXTRA FOOD ANALYSIS, COLLECTION AND DISTRIBUTION WING: Unconsumed food articles which are not
properly stored in granaries and warehouses would be sent to the community kitchens. The grains will be bought and
transported through local transportation channels and local grain trading companies through contract with the Government of
India.
MINI FARMS: The blocks shall have mini farms which will grow grains and necessary materials for the dietary needs of the
population which are not covered by the extra food. Farmers shall be employed from villages which might come under the
block and these farmers shall be paid from the state. The output of these mini farms will be sent to the community kitchens.
Farms will ensure specifications as per the nutrition needs of the block.
COMMUNITY KITCHEN: The food would be cooked here on nutritional basis and distributed to children. Parents of the
kids will cook food in order to ensure proper quality of the food and medical interns will ensure nutritional level of the food.
For cooking and hygienic working, SHGs (Self Help Groups) and NGOs will be brought in the scene to ensure community
participation. Special focus will be given to the dietary needs of Girl Child.
TRAPTI: FEED THE POOR COMMITTEE
RESEARCH
WING
EXTRA FOOD
ANALYSIS,
COLLECTION &
DISTRIBUTION
WING
MINI
FARMS
COMMUNITY
KITCHEN KIDS
8. The committee will perform two tasks:
SPREAD AWARENESS: We will take help of ANGANWADIS. Anganwadis will be entrusted with only awareness work.
They will be made free from all other works which they are performing currently. Here they will spread awareness through
door to door campaign.
MATERNITY CARE: The problem of malnutrition arises from the stage of pregnancy. Not taking proper diet during
pregnancy and lack of proper breastfeeding etc. can lead to Malnutrition. For this function we will bring ASHA under the
ambit of this committee. The whole Asha system will perform various works like registering pregnant women of that area,
timely check-up and tests, proper diet of pregnant women and providing nutrition to the child after birth till the age of 3 and
ensuring that he/she gets breast milk.
Under this project it will be made compulsory for all government/non-government schools to appoint medical officers who will give
nutrition certificate to the new admissions. He will be responsible for the nutritional intake of all students. He will give nutrition
report to the parents of the kids from time to time and will guide them for improvement in their nutritional level. If he notices
something seriously wrong related to the nutrition of kids he will report it to the state student medical officer’s committee. The basic
idea behind this committee is that not just the poor children are malnourished, but also the rich kids, due to negligence are
malnourished.
AHWAAN: AWARENESSS AND MATERNITY CARE COMMITTEE
DHANWANTARI: SCHOOL MEDICAL OFFICERS COMMITTEE
9. EXISTING MODEL
LACK OF TRANSPARENCY: Politics and money influence in funding,
Procurement and pilferage of supplies to the open market instead to ration
shops, Politically influenced Identification and issuing of ration cards,
Diversion of supplies to the open market that ails the poor.
LACK OF MASS COVERAGE: The biggest problem with the current
distribution system is there coverage is very limited. For example only 46./.
children and around 35./. pregnant and lactating women are covered under SNP
of ICDS leaving more than half of the children and womenfolk out of its ambit.
Similarly Anganwadi Survey has left 20./. kids unsurveyed which means 29./.
kids not getting any Anganwadi benefits.
LACK OF QUALITY: The quality of the food provided under midday
meal and Public Distribution System is of inferior quality due to black
marketing and gross negligence.In midday meal the teachers are
responsible for quality of food.But due to over burden if work they are
not able to ensure the quality.
PROPOSED MODEL
TRANSPARENCY: In our model we will include IT companies
for data collection and data entrance. Employees of the IT
companies will be appointed in each block for this purpose and
they will be held liable personally for all the data related to their
block.Computerisation and personal liablity will ensure
transparancy Data of beneficiaries will also be computerized.
MASS COVERAGE: In our model Research work will be done. Each and
every block will be thoroughly surveyed and according to the survey
statistics collected, suitable food will be distributed to the kids. Hence,
each and every kid will be properly examined and fed. Also, when any
poor family migrates from one block to another (which will be conducted
time to time) it will be included in new block.
QUALITY: In our project as parents of the Malnourished kids will
cook food in the kitchen and will be paid for it, so it will naturally
ensure quality of food that will be cooked.
10. EXISTING MODEL
UNEMPLOYMENT: The most serious concern for our
economy is unemployment. Huge portion of our
Demographic Dividend is not able to get a chance of using
their skills.
FOOD WASTAGE: Our country is not poor in resources
but is poor in management of resources. The same goes
with food resources. The irony of our country is that on
one hand we have the highest number of malnourished
kids in our country and on the other hand around 40%
food is wasted per yearin our country.(According to
UNDP).
PROPOSED MODEL
CREATING EMPLOYMENT: This is the biggest merit of our project.
Farmers (committing suicide) are given ample opportunity in mini
farms.The poor parents of malnourished kids are also given jobs in the
community kitchen which will lead to reduction in poverty. More
employment opportunities will be created in IT Companies and local
grains-transportation companies, Economists, Nutritionist, New medical
students, SHG etc will get employment.
MINIMISING FOOD WASTAGE: If we ideally utilize left over food then
there is least possibility of malnutrition in our country. In our proposed model
the food which get ruined due to lack of warehousing facilities is sent to
community kitchen for distributing it to kids so again proper use of food. We
will even use the concept of Food Bank which will be in the community kitchen
itself . In the food bank the extra food of the households of the area, of the
marriage and other ceremonies will be used after proper quality analysis.
The other benefits of our plan are: Decentralisation, Reduction in Poverty, Economic
Empowerment, Assurance of Transparency between the State and the Central
government, Specifications, and WEAKENING THE FORCES OF
MALNUTRITION.
11. REFERENCES:
BOOKS:
1. Mehrotra, Santosh and others , Indian Human Development Report 2011 Towards Social Inclusion, Oxford University Press, Delhi, 1st
edition, 2011
2. Mahadwan, K (ed.), Policies and Strategies for Child Survival Experiences from Asia, Neeraj Publishing House, Delhi, 2nd
edition, 2008
3. Dologan, Corey, Chris Baker, Social Problems and Service Learning Approach, Pine Forge Press, USA, 2011
4. Pandey, Dr. JN, Constitutional Law of India, Central Law Agency, Allahabad, 25th
edition, 1993
WEB RESOURCES:
1. www.unicef.org/india
2. www.who.int/
3. www.fciweb.nic.in/
4. www.children.india.org.in
5. www.tehelka.com
6. www.hindu.com
7. www.sccommissioners.org
8. www.guardian.com
9. www.safrg.org
10. www.indiainfoline.com
REPORTS:
1. DP Wadhwa Committee Report 2006: Transparency in PDS.
2. Right to Food Campaign, Commissioners to the Supreme Court, Ninth Report, 2009.
3. Youth Employment and Unemployment in India: S. Mahendra Dev and M. Venkata Narayana, Indira Gandhi Institute of Development
Research, Mumbai, 2011
12. HENCE PROJECT YUMIKO WILL SERVE AS A ‘BRAHMASTRA’
TO KILL THIS GHOST OF MALNUTRITION!!!
