About the Theme
Warm greetings to all our fellow members, colleagues and students. It is the th Annual Conference. After a successful Annual Conference at SymbiosisUniversity, Pune last year with the theme, ‘Transdisciplinary Approaches in Addressing Nutrition Challenges’, this year we take a step forward in the same direction to address how Nutrition can be an important driver in our nation’s vison of Viksit Bharat@2047 with the theme “Suposhit Bharat for a Viksit Bharat” (Well Nourished India for a Developed India).
The ‘Viksit Bharat @2047’ initiative envisions India as a developed nation by the centenary of its independence in 2047. This transformative roadmap emphasizes inclusive development, sustainable progress, and effective governance. Nutrition can play a central role in achieving this vision.
Nutrition is the key to development of every person starting from preconception to birth and through the entire lifecycle. Therefore, it contributes to the development of the society and the country both directly and indirectly. In fact, good nutrition is both an outcome of and a means to development. Nutritional status of population is the single best reliable marker to assess the development of a nation as it reflects the living conditions of its populace. Thus for a Viksit Bharat (developed India), we need to achieve a Suposhit Bharat (Well-nourished India) and vice versa. If the Viksit Bharat vision helps driving the basic and underlying causes of income poverty in an upwardly direction, a Suposhit Bharat can allow the population to be alive and thriving in mind, body and soul for achieving their full biological potential. The agenda for one is also the agenda for another.
As our country stands at a pivotal moment in its journey toward becoming a global leader, we are still witnessing the sticky problems of undernutrition, albeit witnessing a decline not commensurate with the efforts that have been put in. The worrying figures of 35.5% of stunting among children under five, over 19.3% of wasting and anaemia among 67% of children and 57% of women are all deep-rooted in lack of dietary diversity and changing food environments; although the programs like Poshan Abhiyaan, Anaemia Mukt Bharat, the Mid-Day Meal Scheme have shownslow but steady success. The power of strategic action, fortified foods, better food environments, and community-driven solutions, and many success stories offer a glimpse into the transformative impact but they have to be mainstreamed, discussed and upscaled.On the other hand, there is rising trend in overweight, obesity and diet related non-communicable diseases in all age groups of population which appears to be even more challenging to address, as most developed countries are currently grappling with the problem of excess. There is rising trend in consumption of unhealthy foods with new food drivers aided by technology that allow us to order unhealthy foods that add to our waistlines. The agenda for Suposhit Bharat should therefore take into account both forms of malnutrition and approach the problem from both ends of spectrum.
Although national level percapita expenditure data shows that Indians are spending less on cereals and a little more on fruit, vegetable and milk than a decade ago, we need more evidence on its impact on nutritional status. India awaits the outcomes of the national level surveys - ICMR-NIN’s SAMPADA study and NFHS VI to exactly understand the nutritional status of populace around the country, we as a community of Nutrition enthusiasts have new areas to explore, newer domains to conquer and novel innovations to unveil.
Suposhit Bharat, or a nourished India, is not just about combating malnutrition — it is about laying the foundation for Viksit Bharat — a developed, resilient India. Aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the vision of Suposhit Bharat calls for collective action — through government programs, private sector partnerships, public awareness, and community empowerment.The Nutrition Society of India’s Conference theme, “Suposhit Bharat for a Viksit Bharat,” underscores this critical link: a nourished India is a developed India. It is a call to action for all stakeholders to collaborate in building a healthier, stronger, and more vibrant nation — where every citizen thrives, and Indias true potential shines on the global stage.
This year also is the year of 50 years of introduction of ICDS by the government of India. Over the last 50 years of development in India, we are close to eliminating severe forms of malnutrition and have reduced overall undernutrition by nearly half. Twenty years ago, National Family Health Survey (2006) reported half of the children under 5 were under nourished in India, now this figure is one third in 2019 by the same national survey. We are thus hopeful that the positive shift in undernutrition will eliminate all forms of undernutrition in vulnerable population by 2047.
The conference begins with a keynote on the theme. The symposium on “Suposhit Bharat for Viksit Bharat-Nutrition solutions for a Healthier future” will bring together experts from various domains to tackle the triple burden of malnutrition. The panel discussion on “50 years of ICDS-Lessons and Opportunities” will bring about aninsightful discussionfrom policy makers, nutrition researchers and other domain experts to achieve the dreams of Vikasit Bharat. The debate on “Global Vs Indigenous Growth Standards for Children” will further add to the deliberations.
ABOUT THIS YEAR'S CONFERENCE
The Conference aims to draw participation from diverse groups like nutritionists, researchers, scientists, dieticians, students, teachers and industry. The regular features like plenary sessions, award sessions, free communications, poster sessions and most importantly the Orations will continue to attract not only the nutrition fraternity but also academics, policy makers, implementers, practitioners and researchers.We look forward to your active participation and be the stakeholder to drive the change that can only happen with active participation. The Preconference workshops will help develop capacity building for the Youth that enable Suposhit Bharat and Viksit Bharat by 2047.