Informatics Publishing Limited

Gulrez Shah Azhar ¹, Ajit Rajiva ¹, Priya Dutta ¹, Dileep Mavalankar ¹

Affiliations
1 Indian Institute of Public Health Gandhinagar, Sardar Patel Institute Campus, Ahmedabad 380 054, IN

Abstract

No Abstract.

Full Text

   

Satish Y. Deodhar ¹, Sweta Mahandiratta , K. V. Ramani , Dileep Mavalankar , Sandip Ghosh ², Vincent Braganza ²

Affiliations
1 Wing 2-G, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, Vastrapur-380015, IN
2 S.J. St. Xavieri's College, Ahmedabad, IN

Abstract

With the twin objectives of improving health and education of the poor children, India has embarked upon an ambitious scheme of providing mid day meals (MDM) in the government and government-assisted primary schools. The administrative and logistical responsibilities of this scheme are enormous, and, therefore, offering food stamps or income transfer to targeted recipients is considered as an alternative. We show that the alternative delivery mechanism is not feasible in the Indian context, for it may lead to adverse consumption choices by the heads of the targeted households. We also test whether or not the meals offered through MDM scheme provide sufficient nutrition, food safety, and convenience and variety to the targeted children. Laboratory results show that nutritional delivery through the meals is low in comparison to the daily requirements in general, and, much lower in nutrients such as protein, fat, iron, and iodine in relation to the meal quantity in particular. Moreover, tests on food grains procured for the scheme showed presence of uric acid and aflatoxin. The delivery of MDM scheme may be improved by partnering with private entities and NGOs and by including chikki, sukhdi, fortified nutrition bar, and fruit in the weekly menu. This will not only complement nutritional intake, but offer safety and variety, and, by reducing the distribution time, may offer more contact time between students and teachers for study purpose.

Keywords

Mid Day Meal Scheme, NP-NSPE, Primary School Education, Food Stamps, Income Transfers, Food, Fuel, and Fertilizer Subsidies, Food Safety, Nutritional Deficiency, Indifference Curves, Golden Rice, Nutrition Bars, Chikki, Sukhdi, ICMR, PFA, HACCP.

Full Text

     

Abha Tewary ¹, Rajeev Kumar Mehajan ², Mahaveer Golechha ³, Dileep Mavalankar ³

Affiliations
1 Independent Researcher, Mhow 453 441, IN
2 Science and Engineering Research Board, DST, GoI, New Delhi 110 070, IN
3 Indian Institute of Public Health, Gandhinagar 382 042, IN

Abstract

The efficient and effective management of climate risks is dependent on the availability of reliable climate information and services. To make health system resilient towards the impacts of climate variability and change, climate-related data and information need to be routinely integrated into health science, practice and policy making. The present paper studies the policy congruence at international, regional, national and sub-national levels for climate services for public health, with specific focus on India; to identify the gaps in understanding and possibly suggest a roadmap for co-developing climate services for the public health sector in India.

Keywords

Adaptation, climate resilience, climate services, public health.

Full Text