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A Collaboration of Corporates to Nourish and Nurture Children

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A Nourished India, An Educated India

Feed the future

The movement of Feed The Future Now, that was launched across the country with the support of nine leading corporates in the country and the Government of India, has been taking baby steps towards its aim -- to serve 5 billion meals to children across India by 2020.

The movement, launched on May 27 has its chief theme as 'Poshit Bharat, Shikshit Bharat'. It means that a nourished India will be an educated one. How can a child that is undernourished stay focused on his/her studies? For the child to grow into an intelligent person, he/she will require nutrients that are important for the neuronal cell (nerve cells that also make up the brain cells) growth and development are supplied in the necessary quantities,

All nutrients are important for the neuronal cell growth and development; but some have greater impact during the late fetal and neonatal time periods. These include protein, iron, zinc, selenium, iodine, folate, vitamin A, choline, and polyunsaturated fatty acids. All these play an important role in a child's development. Hidden hunger, characterised by the lack of sufficient supply of nutrients, is quite prevalent across the country.

This problem is class agnostic. Even the well-off are prone to this issue as a result of not eating many of the foods that supply these micro-nutrients.

As of now, this is a movement that has just taken birth. With its basis of three pillars – awareness, nutrition and education, the campaign seeks to create a rallying call-to-action and promote policy advocacy as well as a behavioural change with regards to the twin issues of nutrition and education.

While the movement has big corporates at the forefront, an individual need not feel left out. Even as corporates contribute, you too can feed a child.
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