Holding a mirror to Karnataka government on nutrition in the state

The Bahutva Karnataka report card highlights how malnutrition has not been given the attention that it requires by the current government.

ByDr Sylvia Karpagam

Published Apr 21, 2023 | 8:44 PMUpdatedApr 21, 2023 | 8:44 PM

(Left) Storage of rations at an anganwadi centre in Bijapura, Karnataka; (Right) Food prepared for a mid-day meal in a government school in Anekal

Bahutva Karnataka is a progressive collective that seeks to challenge the growing violence against minority and Dalit communities through a democratic process of consultation and participation. With elections around the corner in Karnataka, the collective felt the urgency to bring out report cards on various aspects of the government’s performance.

This report card on nutrition was released on 17 April 2023 at an Iftaar/Bahutva Bhojan event in Padarayanapura co-hosted by Slum Mahila Sanghatane and Bahutva Karnataka.

The report starts with a reminder from the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, which commits “to provide for food and nutritional security in human life cycle approach, by ensuring access to adequate quantity of quality food at affordable prices to people to live a life with dignity. …”

The report card highlights how malnutrition in Karnataka was a matter of concern even prior to the pandemic and is expected to have worsened now but has not been given the attention that it requires by the current government.

Some of the current concerns are:

Failure to meet minimum norms under NFSA 2013

The social security schemes — Public Distribution System (PDS), Mid-day Meal Scheme (MDMS), and Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme — may address hunger.

But they are insufficient to address malnutrition or meet the requirements mandated by the NFSA 2013.

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Public Distribution System (PDS)

The PDS rations have been reduced to mainly cereals and occasional pulses and these end up as the primary, but nutritionally inadequate, diet of many poor families.

Fair Price Shops (FPS) are not well regulated and open erratically, can engage in quantity fraud, and have poor grievance-redressal mechanisms.

In March 2020, during Covid, the Karnataka High Court had to direct the state government to provide food packets to daily wage employees who may be deprived of earnings due to Covid and lockdown.

Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme

After Covid, Take Home Rations (THR) and food prepared in Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) do not often meet nutritional requirements. Often it is only cereal-based with very little pulses, vegetables, oil, etc.

It is good that eggs are mandated in anganwadis. But often children receive fewer eggs than they are eligible for, especially post-Covid.

On 28 May 2022, the Karnataka High Court had to direct the government to ensure quality nutrition to beneficiaries (including breastfeeding mothers) under the ICDS. Adolescent girls who have dropped out of school have been left out of most nutrition-related schemes, and have not received iron and folic acid tablets in the last three years.

While some anganwadi centres under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme do not have adequate budgets that are released on time, others do not have stoves, cooking vessels, serving vessels, weighing machines, plates, glasses, cooking fuel, etc. Potable drinking water and toilet facilities are not available in all anganwadi centres.

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Mathrupoorna scheme

The scheme in Karnataka was initiated by the state government to provide one full meal, which includes milk and eggs, to antenatal and postnatal mothers. It has received good feedback but has been functioning at less than the desired standards since the pandemic and lockdown.

Uppitu given as part of Mathrupoorna scheme along with an occassional egg

Uppitu given as part of Mathrupoorna scheme along with an occasional egg (Supplied)

Mid-day meal scheme

This scheme is expected to provide 12–15 grams of protein to children of Class 1–5 and 20 grams for students in Class 6–10.

Using a clause, the contract for mid-day meals has been given mainly to centralised kitchens. Children tend to eat less when the cooking is contracted out, primarily due to the poorer quality of cooked rice, the lack of diversity in the menu, and the lack of taste and freshness in the meals. However, contracts continue to be given to private agencies.

Further, many rural schools do not have potable water or toilet facilities.

Since November 2018, the Karnataka State Food Commission has been raising issues regarding the Akshaya Patra Foundation’s failure to comply with the state government prescribed menu — which includes onion and garlic. Complaints about bland and monotonous food and lack of freshness have led to low consumption and wastage.

It is to be appreciated that the current government has provided eggs to children as part of the mid-day meal scheme in spite of aggressive resistance from religious and caste groups.

However, the quantity is inadequate and still not distributed in schools supplied by Akshaya Patra Foundation. Eggs have to be given on six days of the week to all children in the mid-day meal scheme and anganwadis irrespective of whether they are malnourished or not.

An impact assessment in 2021–22 comparing Yadgir and Gadag by the Department of Public Instruction, Government of Karnataka, showed that eggs are well received in schools and also show positive nutritional outcomes. Such evidence-based nutritional policies are a welcome initiative.

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Indira canteens

Indira canteens, which were envisaged to supply low-cost meals catering to the urban poor and which could have been a lifeline during Covid, have seen a steady decline and now lie deserted. No alternative arrangements have been made.

Many of the contractors for food and water have not had their bills settled, and there is poor oversight of food quality and political neglect because of the name ‘Indira’.

Ksheera Bhagya Scheme

Supply of milk (powder) to government, government-aided schools, and anganwadis in several districts of Karnataka under the Ksheera Bhagya Scheme has been disrupted since January 2023. This effectively removes nutrient-dense foods from the plates of children.

National Education Policy

The current government has pushed laws and policies that go against scientific thought and are instead mired in casteism and communalism.

It was shocking that the Karnataka position for the National Education Policy (NEP) was blatantly unscientific and casteist in pushing for removal of eggs and meat from the diet while irrationally arguing that Indians had ‘small frames’ for ‘genetic reasons’.

This grossly undermines the seriousness of malnutrition in the state and helps absolve the government of any responsibility.

Apart from this, there has been concerted targeting of meat eaters and meat sellers. Bans on meat shops during Hindu festivals and calls for boycotting halal meat have affected meat sellers and consumers adversely.

Apart from this, the government hurriedly passed the Karnataka Prevention of Cattle Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Act, 2020, even as people were struggling to maintain their livelihood and nutritional intake, thus converting a legitimate trade that sustained the livelihood of thousands (starting with the farmers and extending to cattle traders, butchers, vendors, and consumers) into an illegal activity, making these groups vulnerable to targeted attacks.

The death of Idrees Pasha by a repeat offender, Puneeth Kerehalli, is just one of the several attacks on those involved in the cattle trade.

Also read: Malnutrition cuts across social classes in India

Poor attempt by state to document or address malnutrition

In spite of there being an urgent need for the state to generate reliable and representative data, this has not been forthcoming.

Although there is no evidence to suggest that fortification of cereals with micronutrients is cost-effective, the corporate interest in this is pushing the agenda.

There are also no concerted efforts taken to improve the functioning of the Nutritional Rehabilitation Centres (NRCs) and to make social security schemes that includes migrant workers and other marginalised groups.

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(The writer is a public health doctor and researcher and member of Ahara Namma Hakku and Bahutva Karnataka. These are the personal views of the author)