Nutrition Conclave 2024: Driving Collective Action for a Healthier Future

22 April 2024

On March 5th, 2024, the Nourishing Schools Foundation hosted the Nutrition Conclave in collaboration with the Department of Home Science, Mount Carmel College, Autonomous, Bengaluru. The event gathered experts to discuss solutions for addressing adolescent malnutrition in India.

Opening Remarks

The conclave began with a welcome address by Ms. Archana Sinha, CEO and Co-founder of Nourishing Schools Foundation, who set the stage by highlighting the triple burden of malnutrition in India and the importance of empowering children as changemakers in their communities.

This was followed by insightful speeches from two esteemed guests:

  • Ms. Veena S. Rao, Director of Auro Centre for Public Nutrition, Public Health, and Public Policy, and former Advisor to the Karnataka Nutrition Mission, emphasised the importance of human capital in India’s demographic dividend. She discussed how poor nutritional status affects the country’s future workforce and called for targeted interventions to develop India’s human capital.
  • Dr. Madan Gopal, Advisor to the Public Health Administration at the National Health Systems Resource Centre, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India and former Senior Consultant, NITI Aayog, highlighted India’s strides in combating malnutrition and the importance of policy-driven efforts. He underscored the need for a united approach to eliminate malnutrition in the coming decade.

Panel Discussions

The event featured two thought-provoking panel discussions:

Panel I: Empowering Children to Lead the Battle Against Malnutrition & Revolutionising School Curricula Through Nutrition Integration

  • Mr. Pawan Agarwal, Former CEO, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) & CEO, Food Future Foundation, spoke about the importance of integrating food literacy into school curricula.
  • Ms. Sunetra Roday, Retired Principal, Maharashtra State Institute of Hotel Management & Catering Technology (MSIHMCT), Pune, emphasised a holistic approach to food literacy starting at a young age.
  • Dr. Srilakshmi R., Associate Professor, Smt. V.H.D. Central Institute of Home Science, discussed the influence of advertising on children’s food choices and the need for policy interventions.
  • Ms. Kavitha K., Principal, Army Public School, Bengaluru, advocated for practical nutrition education that goes beyond rote learning.

Panel II: The Crucial Role of Impact Assessment in Combating Malnutrition & The Transformative Power of CSR in School Nutrition-Based Initiatives

  • Dr. Jyoti Sharma, Additional Professor, Indian Institute of Public Health, Public Health Foundation of India, discussed the importance of data-driven policymaking and effective impact assessments.
  • Dr. Smriti Pahwa, Regional Director – North India, Arogya World, highlighted the need for greater CSR investments in nutrition.
  • Dr. Rebecca Kuriyan Raj, Division Head, Nutrition at St. John’s Research Institute, spoke on the importance of capacity building within research communities.
  • Mr. Satyabrat Padhi, Bengaluru State Lead, PATH, discussed aligning nutrition programmes with broader sanitation and education efforts.
  • Ms. Meena Vaidyanathan, Founder of Niiti Consulting, underscored the need for collaboration across sectors to address the multifaceted challenge of malnutrition.

Interactive and Networking Sessions

Following the panel discussions, attendees engaged in interactive sessions designed to deepen their understanding of the topics and encourage collaboration. The event concluded with a networking session, offering opportunities for participants to explore future partnerships and build on the ideas discussed.

The Nutrition Conclave provided a platform for thought leaders and practitioners to share insights, identify challenges, and propose strategies for tackling malnutrition at the grassroots level. The conclave demonstrated how collective efforts can create a healthier future for India’s children by focusing on evidence-based interventions and multi-sectoral collaboration.

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