Ministry of Health and family welfare, headed by Dr. Harsh Vardhan launched and emphasized the intricacies of “Eat Right India” a new programme to ensure proper quality food and accessibility to the atmanirbhar Bharat during the online conference called by FSSAI. This programme was launched in association with Food safety and standard Authority of India (FSSAI). He also put the website eatrightindia.gov.in in public domain and hoisted the ‘Eat Right India’ handbook. Ashwini Kumar Choubey, minister of state for Health and Family Welfare , food safety commissioners and other delegates were also present at the E-conference.
The “Eat right India” movement initiated by FSSAI under the aegis of MoHFW has been creating awareness amid the people about safe feeding, quality feeding and dietary habits and rituals through which the demand for good food will increase.
Handbook released contain a manual for officials to adopt and take up the Eat Right India initiatives in their respective cities. Dr. Harsh Vardhan said, “Food is not only about hunger or taste but about health and nourishment. The workshop is unique in that it brings big restaurant chefs to roadside eatery owners under the same umbrella to achieve a single goal.” He further stated in the nation of 135 million population “196 million are victims of chronic hunger while another 180 million suffer from obesity. 47 million children have stunted growth while another 25 million are wasted. 500 million are deficient in micro-nutrients and 100 million suffer from food-borne diseases.”
This movement will take its toll on bad practices in raw material supply, processing, production, handling and consumption and curb the malpractices soon. This movement will pinpoint good food selection practices, nutrition and awareness about out eating. This will also put a check on improper disposal of food related waste.
Commemorating PM’s conviction of creating the “NAYA BHARAT by 2022, 75th year of independence, Union minister reiterated “The Prime Minister initiated Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan on the 2nd of October, 2014 to rid the country of diseases arising out of poor sanitation. Through the Jal Jeevan Mission aims to provide potable piped water which will aid in prevention of water borne illness in the country while the Ujjwala Yojana provides access to clean fuels to tackle smoke and lung diseases.” He earmarked previously started programmes such as “Poshan Abhiyan”, Anaemia Mukt Bharat, and Fit India movement and stated the benefits which a common citizen is gaining. He also highlighted “Ayushman Bharat Abhiyan” which has its own vow to make India relatively disease free and to establish a pillar of “Good Health”.
On thrusting the role of good food in combating morbity, Dr. Harsh Vardhan further proclaimed “61.8% deaths from non-communicable like diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular complications etc., are directly or indirectly related to faulty diet. Even communicable diseases like tuberculosis disproportionately affect people who are undernourished. People of the same household have been showing different responses to COVID based on their immunity acquired through nutrition.”
Shri Ashwini Kumar Choubey, led light on “the role of age-old wisdom and traditional Ayurveda in guiding people to right eating practices by categorizing food based on the effect they had on the body.” quoting a shloka from Bhagwadgita and Upanishads he asserted on the role of traditional eating habits and plant foods.
Others attending the E-conference were Ms. Rita Teaotia, Chairperson,FSSAI and Shri Arun Singhal, CEO, FSSAI.
