Held on 1st - 7th September every year

National Nutrition Week, India is an annual observation which addresses the problem of malnutrition or under nutrition, especially amongst the children and women. Malnutrition is defined as ‘A state of poor nutrition caused by insufficient or unbalanced diet. National Nutrition Week, abbreviated as NNW is observed in India from 1^st to 7^th September especially to highlight the causes, effects and countermeasures of malnutrition. Nutrition is the focal point of health and well-being of a nation. It is directly linked to human resource development, productivity and ultimately to the national growth. Though malnutrition is a global problem, India is amongst the top countries which suffer from this problem.

• Malnutrition Facts: India

• History: National Nutrition Week, India

• National Nutrition Week: Activities

• Observing National Nutrition Week?

• NNW Alternate Names
  
  

Few Malnutrition Facts: India

• India ranks 5^th amongst countries with the weakest commitment to ending child malnutrition (World Vision and Save the Children)
• Over 40% of the world’s underweight children below 5 years live in India (Save the children)
• Malnutrition costs the nation approximately 4% of GDP (US $ 29 Billion or Rs 1.3 lakh crore) in productivity losses (National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau)
• One in every three malnourished children in the world is from India (UNICEF)

To counter this serious problem various governmental agencies and non-governmental organisations observe this week through various activities and programs. Every year Indian National Nutrition Week has a theme which, particularly highlight malnutrition related issues. Previous themes of NNW have been ‘Malnutrition, an obstacle to National Development’, ‘Nutrition & National Development, ‘Preventing Malnutrition in Children below 2 Years’ and so on.

History of National Nutrition Week in India

The National Nutrition Week is a central government initiative started in 1982 to promote awareness and good health through nutrition education. The need for establishing a day for awareness of nutrition arose because a large population of India, especially children and women do not get basic food supply due to poverty, corruption, illiteracy, lack of awareness and various other contributing causes. Reducing the level of malnutrition and micronutrient deficiency thus became a major concern whose responsibility came on the shoulder of various organisations especially created for the aforesaid.

The Department of Women and Child Development was set up in the year 1985 as a part of the Ministry of Human Resource Development to give the much needed impetus to the holistic development of women and children. With effect from 30.01.2006, the Department has been upgraded to a Ministry. Some other supporting organisations include Food and Nutrition Board, Community Food & Nutrition Extension Units (CFNEUs), National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Ministry of Agriculture and UNICEF.

National Nutrition Week – India Activities & Events

Food & Nutrition Board (FNB) along with its technical wing, regional offices and quality control laboratories, Community Food & Nutrition Extension Units (CFNEUs) NGO's & other concerned institutions provide health and nutrition education, health services, supplementary food and pre-school education to mark the day.

Some of the activities undertaken on this day:

Mass Nutrition Awareness Campaigns are organised especially in rural areas where the problem is more serious

• Nutrition awareness to the masses is undertaken by organizing exhibitions on nutrition
• Nutrition quiz competitions are organise in rural schools
• Puppet shows / street plays are organised to spread awareness
• State capitals conduct symposiums and districts hold field activities, competitions, etc. to spread nutrition information amongst the people
• NGO’s and other organisations distribute nutrition education/training material to the masses
• Public and televised demonstration of low cost nutritious recipes
• Live demonstrations, workshops, film/slide shows, special nutrition education programmes, coverage of events through All India Radio, Doordarshan and Press are used to propagate nutrition messages on a particular theme
• Various concerned agencies distribute publicity material to create mass awareness

How to observe National Nutrition Week in your institution?

• Organise poster making competition in the premises of your institution

• Essay writing competition can be used effectively to generate awareness

• Institute bulletin board can be used to disseminate information about malnutrition. Posters, photos, literature etc. can be put on the boars so everyone can get to see it

• Stage shows or plays can be held to create awareness amongst all

• Banners can be displayed at entrance or spots with certain slogans and symbols to commemorate the day

• Nutrition experts, celebrities, socialites can be asked to collaborate and spread the message

• Marathon, cycle race and rallies can also be held to generate publicity

• Skits or street plays can be shown at strategic public places

• A visit to slums and those suffering from malnutrition can be organised to sensitise the common people

• Demonstration of cheap nutritional recipes can be organised in areas affected

Alternate names - National Nutritional Food Week, Rastriya Poshan Saptah (hindi).

Holidays Status – It is not a holiday.