Shilma (Himachal Pradesh) [India], October 22 (ANI): The State Government, led by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, has accepted the Himachal Pradesh Nutrition Policy, 2026, aimed toward addressing malnutrition, anaemia, micronutrient deficiencies, poor dietary range and rising diet-related ailments via a complete and coordinated method, a launch mentioned.Â
The coverage emphasises selling conventional Himachali meals, seasonal fruits, pulses, millets, inexperienced leafy greens, dairy merchandise and different domestically accessible nutritious elements to enhance public well being and encourage wholesome consuming habits.
The coverage adopts a life-cycle method to diet, with particular emphasis on the primary 1,000 days of life, maternal and little one diet, adolescents and weak sections of society. It seeks to make sure entry to secure, nutritious and reasonably priced meals whereas selling balanced, culturally acceptable diets that households can simply incorporate into their day by day lives. ‘Special consideration can be given to individuals residing in distant and tribal areas to enhance entry to diet and healthcare companies.’
The coverage envisages coordinated efforts by the Departments of Health and Family Welfare, Women and Child Development, Education, Agriculture, Horticulture, Food and Civil Supplies, Jal Shakti, Rural Development, Panchayati Raj and different involved departments. To strengthen interdepartmental coordination, planning, implementation and monitoring, it proposes the institution of a State Nutrition Coordination Cell (SNCC) and District Nutrition Coordination Cells (DNCCs).
It additionally focuses on strengthening nutrition-related interventions beneath the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), PM POSHAN and the Public Distribution System (PDS), alongside neighborhood participation and behavior change communication.
Strengthening meals security infrastructure and surveillance is one other key element of the coverage. It envisages the upgradation of the Composite Testing Laboratory (CTL) at Kandaghat and the institution of 4 laboratories within the state, together with the creation and filling of posts required to assist these initiatives.
‘The course of for establishing a brand new laboratory at Dharamshala has already been initiated. These measures will assist enhance meals high quality monitoring, detect adulteration and contamination and guarantee compliance with prescribed meals security and dietary requirements,’ it added.
The coverage additionally proposes laboratory-based surveillance, cellular meals testing services, water high quality monitoring and digital integration of nutrition-related information via a proposed State Nutrition Portal.
These initiatives are anticipated to facilitate evidence-based decision-making, enhance monitoring and allow well timed corrective motion. The coverage additional seeks to strengthen diet consciousness, meals security schooling and the implementation of current diet programmes, it acknowledged.
CM Sukhu mentioned that the state authorities is dedicated to constructing a wholesome, well-nourished and empowered Himachal. ‘He mentioned diet is key to human growth and each little one, girl and citizen will need to have entry to secure, nutritious and reasonably priced meals.’
‘He mentioned the coverage gives a complete framework to handle dietary challenges via the coordinated efforts of all involved departments, with explicit emphasis on weak communities and folks residing in distant areas.’
He added that strengthening meals testing laboratories, bettering meals high quality surveillance and selling conventional Himachali diets would play a big function in safeguarding public well being.
The Chief Minister mentioned the federal government would additionally encourage better neighborhood participation, diet consciousness and wholesome consuming habits whereas strengthening the implementation of current diet and meals security programmes.
He expressed confidence that efficient implementation of the coverage would assist cut back malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies, enhance the well being of future generations and contribute to the general socio-economic growth of Himachal Pradesh. (ANI)