The Nutrition Fallout of School Closures

Context: COVID-19 has exacerbated the problem of child hunger and malnutrition.

Issue of child hunger and malnutrition in India during the pandemic:

• School Closures: impacting 116 million children in India

• • • About 369 million children worldwide have been affected in April 2020 (peak of school closures) – The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2020.
    • A report by the International Labour Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund UNICEF, on COVID19 and child labour, cautions a risk that some children may not even return to schools when they reopen. 

• Rising hunger: The recent Global Hunger Index (GHI) report for 2020 ranks India at 94 out of 107 countries, behind Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh.

• Lower offtake of grains under Mid-Day Meal Scheme (MDMS): by 22% and there were 23 states and Union Territories (UTs) that reported a decline in the grain offtake from Food Corporation of India.

• Child Labour: Children engaged in labour to supplement the fall in family incomes, are deprived off meals at school.

Significance of MDMS:

• Fulfils nutritional requirements: About one-third of the nutritional requirement is mandated to come from MDMS 

• This includes 450 Kcal of energy, a minimum of 12 grams of proteins, including adequate quantities of micronutrients like iron, folic acid and Vitamin A.

• Many poor students often reach school on an empty stomach, making MDMS a major source of nutrition for children.

Way Forward: 

• Promote Local Procurement: Linking local small farmers with the MDMS for the supply of cereals, vegetables, eggs could diversify production and farming systems, transform rural livelihoods and meet nutritional self-sufficiency.
• School Nutrition Garden: New initiatives such as the School Nutrition (Kitchen) Garden under MDMS to provide fresh vegetables for mid-day meals to be encouraged.
• Retrospective allotment: The missed mid-day meal entitlement for April may be provided to children as a dry ration with retrospective effect.

Conclusion: Innovation is required to ensure that not just food, but nutrition is delivered regularly to millions of children across India and the world.