WCD to develop Poshan-atlas to map crops, foodgrains to tackle malnutrition

The Women and Child Development Ministry would develop a 'Poshan-atlas' to map crops and foodgrains grown in different regions of the country in a bid to tackle malnutrition by promoting regional cropping patterns and embracing local food that are rich in protein, WCD Minister Smriti Irani said.

Chairing the fifth National Council on India's Nutrition Challenges, Irani said a humane solution has to be developed to tackle the menace of malnutrition in India and for this, the economic benefits of investing in nutrition has to be highlighted and propagated.

Irani said the ministry, along with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Deendayal Research Institute, is developing the Poshan atlas.

It was also decided in the meeting that a national advisory panel for agri-nutrition will be set up, an official statement said, but no further details of it were given.

Irani, according to the statement, suggested that to acknowledge the unsung heroes of the POSHAN Abhiyaan, who work tirelessly