About the Book
This book engages with the critical issue of nutrition and its relationship with the full spectrum of human development challenges in India. It examines concerns around both undernutrition and overnutrition through a range of case studies, documenting key interventions and strategies implemented by governments, NGOs, and other stakeholders.
The book broadly discusses macroeconomic and social issues affecting India’s progress in addressing nutrition challenges, linking them to meso- and micro-level factors—from food and health systems to grassroots realities. It explores not only policy imperatives but, more importantly, the processes and mechanisms necessary to achieve them. Special attention is given to the role of women and women’s collectives, the importance of comprehensive, decentralized, and community-based approaches to improving nutrition among the most vulnerable, and the critical life phases that require targeted interventions. The volume also presents large-scale, state-led, and state-wide models and strategies, offering valuable insights for policymakers, governments, and institutions grappling with similar issues.
Part of the Innovations, Practice and the Future of Public Policy in India series, this open access volume will interest policy professionals, administrators, academics, and researchers working in public health, nutrition and dietetics, allied health, health and social care, health and development, public policy, social policy, and South Asia studies.
Table of Contents:
Making A Real Difference to Under Nutrition Part I: The Macro Issues Foregrounding an Agenda for Community-Based Nutrition Action. Making A Real Difference to Under Nutrition Part II: An Agenda for Community-Based Nutrition Action PART 1 – Community Action and Women’s Collectives 1. Where is the Community in our thrust on Poshan? 2. Health, Nutrition and Sanitation initiatives under the DAY - National Rural Livelihood Mission: Lessons in social capital and women’s collectives for nutrition 3. Empowering Communities through Participatory Learning and Action Meeting Cycles for Improving Health and Nutrition in Rural India – The Ekjut Initiative 4. Can women collectives tackle obesity led challenges? Kudumbashree – an experiential account 5. Farm Production Diversity, Consumption Improvement, and Nutrition Status in Farming Households: Empirical Evidence from an Action Research Project PART II. Learning from Other States 6. Overcoming the odds- The Nutrition Story of Odisha 7. State Governance for Improving Nutritional Outcomes: The Meghalaya Experience 8. Integrating nutrition and primary health care across rural, tribal communities in southern Rajasthan, India: What does it take, what are the gains? 9. Bihar’s JEEViKA Movement and its contribution to improving diet diversity and nutrition outcomes 10. Integrated Management of Malnutrition Programme: ‘MAHAN’, Melghat, India 11. Children with Special Needs and Early Child Development in the Nurturing Care Framework: Lessons from work in the Periurban Settlements of Delhi 12. Integrating Gestational Weight Gain Monitoring in Comprehensive Antenatal Care through Health Systems Approach: Telangana Experiences Theme III – Nutrition among Children and Adolescents 13. Changing the Narrative: Success Cases in Tackling Childhood Stunting in India 14. Case study: Community-based creches for the management of malnutrition among children under three in tribal areas 15. Organising Young People and Adolescents’ Collectives for Improved Nutrition, Health and Overall Well-being 16. Innovative Interventions Spearhead Substantial Improvement in Maternal and Young Child Feeding (MIYCF) Practices and Contribute to the Reduction in Child Undernutrition
About the Author :
• Dr Vandana Prasad - Founder Secretary and Principal Technical Advisor, Public Health Resource Society, India.
• Ms Arti Ahuja - Retd. IAS, Former Additional Secretary - Health, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India
Review :
‘These volumes fill a unique niche in the continuum between academic research and advocacy. They go beyond merely identifying challenges in various aspects of human development, particularly health, nutrition, and education, and instead explore potential solutions through critical reviews of what works. This makes the collection immensely valuable to both academicians and practitioners, rendering these volumes essential reading for anyone interested in public policy.’
Sonalde Desai, Professor, National Council of Applied Economic Research and University of Maryland, USA.
‘Human development cannot be viewed segmentally through a reductionist lens, since the various elements are closely integrated and impact each other. Health is inseparable from nutrition, and both are influenced by education, environment and economic development. In each of these, equity is the litmus test of development serving its social purpose. These six volumes knit these varied skeins into a unified tapestry of human development. While detailing the key components of each of the main themes, the composite collection connects them to create a coherent design for accelerated and equitable people centric human development in India.’
K. Srinath Reddy, Founder (Past) President, Public Health Foundation of India
‘These volumes compile the results of many micro studies in the areas of health, nutrition, education and rural livelihood development. These are critical areas where India needs to improve performance to achieve the objective of Viksit Bharat. Larger funding is unavoidable but even more important is to ensure efficiency of spending and it is here that these micro studies will provide evidence-based guidance in what works and in what circumstances. The solutions will not be the same across all states and this must be built into the design of each programme at the state level. The collection is an invaluable contribution in this very important area.’
Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Ex-Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission of India
‘This volume on Improving Nutritional Outcomes: Connecting the Dots through Grounded Action, represents an important contribution to the literature on nutrition policy for India, at a critical historical moment for the country. In seventeen chapters, written by experts from multiple disciplines, the authors connect national policies to grassroots actions in ways that can help resolve India’s long-standing “nutrition conundrum.” What can national policymakers do to improve the efforts of community groups, women’ collectives, and diverse municipalities to address persistent problems of malnutrition and exploding challenges of over nutrition? What can state governments learn from the experiences of other states in making progress on nutritional outcomes? How can women and communities mobilize themselves effectively to promote nutritional progress? These are tough questions that cut across many government agencies at all levels of the Indian polity. India needs progress on nutrition to continue its path forward in the twenty-first century. The substantial challenges of nutrition cannot be solved through slogans; they require creative thinking and effective actions to connect the dots. Luckily, this book offers many insights and concrete suggestions on how India can do this now.
Michael R. Reich, Taro Takemi Professor of International Health Policy, Emeritus at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, USA
‘Malnutrition has been described as India’s curse. But there is nothing supernatural about malnutrition, neither its causes nor its prevention. It is caused by a powerful combination of negatives: too little nutritious food, unclean water, poor sanitation, uneven health services, and a lack of childcare capacities and facilities. It can only be prevented by an equally powerful combination of positives: determined political leadership, a foundation of modest economic growth, the empowerment of women, healthy food that is accessible to all, clean water and sanitation and health care that delivers for the most vulnerable. This wonderful book shows what needs to be done. It shows which dots need to be connected, how that can be done, and who needs to step up. It points to action at all levels: national, state, district and community. It provides examples of what can be achieved when efforts are aligned across sectors, stakeholders and levels. It blends practical, lived experience with conceptual analytics, all done in a way that is refreshingly readable and relatable. If malnutrition were a curse, this book would break it.’
Lawrence Haddad, Executive Director, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN)
‘The book offers a timely and comprehensive exploration of nutrition in the Indian context. Using a multi-sectoral lens, it weaves together case studies and real-world interventions to reveal the complex factors shaping nutritional outcomes. The emphasis on community action and evidence-based strategies is especially impactful, demonstrating how collective efforts can drive sustainable change. Written in a clear and engaging style, the book is both informative and lucid. It is a valuable resource for policymakers, academicians, and nutrition enthusiasts. A must-read for anyone committed to improving nutrition at both the individual and systemic levels.’
Preeti Sudan, Former Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India
