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Summary
Corporate Sustainability Assignment:
Malnutrition in India

In Guidance of Prof. Gaurav Arora

By:
Gunjan Maheshwari

E032

80512300422

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Defining Malnutrition and Hunger:

According to WHO, “Malnutrition refers to deficiencies, excesses or imbalances in a person’s intake

of energy and/or nutrients. The term malnutrition encompasses two main categories of conditions.
The first is 'undernutrition,' comprising stunting (inadequate height for age), wasting (insufficient
weight for height), underweight (low weight for age), and deficiencies or insufficiencies in
micronutrients (essential vitamins and minerals). The second category includes overweight, obesity,
and noncommunicable diseases linked to diet, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer.”

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Numerous households face challenges in affording or obtaining an adequate supply of nutritious
foods, such as fresh fruits, vegetables, legumes, meat, and milk. In contrast, foods and beverages
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high in fat, sugar, and salt are often more affordable and accessible. This has contributed to a
significant increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity among both children and adults,
regardless of economic status or country wealth. Interestingly, it is not uncommon to observe a
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coexistence of undernutrition and overweight within the same community, household, or even
individual. For instance, it's plausible for someone to be both overweight and deficient in essential
micronutrients.

“Hunger occurs in three different forms: acute, chronic and hidden. Acute hunger and starvation
typically occurs during famines and disasters, but represents only about 10 percent of the world’s
hungry. Most of the hungry, approximately 90 percent, are chronically undernourished. Chronic
undernourishment is caused by constant or recurrent lack of access to food of sufficient quality and
quantity, often coupled with poor health and caring practices. It results in underweight and stunted
children as well as high child mortality brought about by associated diseases. Hidden hunger, caused
by a lack of essential micronutrients (vitamins and minerals), afflicts more than two billion people,
even when they consume adequate amounts of calories and protein.” (TheHungerTaskForce, 2015)

Global Malnutrition Statistics:

“Malnutrition affects individuals worldwide, spanning across all countries. According to the World
Health Organization (WHO), around 1.9 billion adults globally struggle with obesity, and 462 million
face underweight issues. In children under 5 years old, an estimated 41 million are overweight or
obese, while 159 million experience stunting, and 50 million suffer from wasting. Additionally, 528
million women of reproductive age, constituting 29% of the global population, are afflicted by
anaemia, with roughly half of them being candidates for iron supplementation.

One in every nine people goes to bed hungry each night, with 20 million individuals currently facing
the risk of famine in South Sudan, Somalia, Yemen, and Nigeria. “(WHO,2019)

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Indian Malnutrition Statistics:

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) approximates that 194.4 million individuals in India,
constituting approximately 14.5% of the total population, experience undernourishment. In India,
the Ministry of Women and Child Development revealed that, as per the government's Poshan
Tracker, there are over 14 lakh severely malnourished children in the country. These children,
exhibiting extremely low weight for their height, face an elevated risk of mortality due to a
compromised immune system. The ministry reported that, among approximately 5.6 crore children
measured in February 2023 through the Poshan Tracker, 2.6% were identified as severely
malnourished, totalling 14,56,000, while 7.7% were classified as malnourished, comprising around 43
lakhs.

In the Global Hunger Index 2019, India holds the 102nd position out of 117 countries.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), malnutrition was the predominant risk
factor for mortality in children under five in every state of India in 2017.

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Causes of Malnutrition in India:

1. Poverty: Financial constraints prevent many Indians from accessing nutritious food. Around
74.1% of Indians can’t afford healthy meals, compared to 42.1% worldwide, according to the
FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP, and WHO.
2. Food Distribution: Despite being a major food producer, India struggles with uneven food
distribution, leading to varying levels of food security across regions.
3. Dietary Practices: Cultural diets high in carbs but lacking critical nutrients create imbalances,
especially among vegetarians, resulting in shortages of protein, iron, and vitamin B12.
4. Sanitation and Water Access: Inadequate access to clean water and sanitation can worsen
malnutrition by causing waterborne illnesses that hinder nutrient absorption.
5. Healthcare Access: Limited rural healthcare access leaves infections untreated, exacerbating
malnutrition. Maternal malnutrition affects newborns, perpetuating the cycle.
6. Population Density: High population density strains food, water, and healthcare resources in
some areas, challenging nutritional needs fulfilment.
7. Early Marriage: Early marriage and childbirth among adolescent females lead to
undernourished children, compounding malnutrition issues.
8. Nutritional Education: Limited nutrition knowledge, especially among low-income
households, results in poor dietary choices and feeding habits.
9. Climate Change and agricultural practices: Climate change affects crop yields, impacting
food production and accessibility. Natural disasters like droughts and floods worsen
malnutrition by causing food shortages and job losses.

Impact of Covid-19 on Malnutrition:

 The onset of Covid-19 thrust millions into poverty, diminishing incomes for a significant
portion of the population, with a disproportionate impact on the economically
disadvantaged, who are already highly susceptible to malnutrition and food insecurities.
 Furthermore, lockdown measures imposed in response to the pandemic disrupted
crucial services like supplementary feeding through Anganwadi centers, mid-day meals,
immunization, and micro-nutrient supplementation, aggravating the prevalence of
malnutrition.

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Connection between malnutrition and productivity, economic growth:

The latest research conducted by Modern Scientist Global in partnership with The Power of Nutrition
and published in the Lancet journal exposes the economic ramifications of childhood stunting on
businesses in low- and middle-income countries. The study is groundbreaking, being the first to
quantify the financial impact of chronic undernutrition in childhood on the private sector in
emerging economies. The key findings include:

1. The private sector faces an annual loss exceeding a quarter of a trillion dollars (up to $264.6
billion).
2. Workers experience income reduction by up to 20%.
3. Countries witness a decline of up to 10.1% in GDP.

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The World Bank calculates that malnutrition leads to productivity losses exceeding 10 percent of
individuals' lifetime earnings, with the potential GDP loss ranging from 2 to 3 percent. It outlines
three pathways through which malnutrition hampers economic growth and sustains poverty:

 Direct decline in productivity due to inadequate physical health.

 Indirect decline in productivity attributed to insufficient cognitive development and
educational deficits.
 Depletion of financial and other resources resulting from elevated healthcare expenses
associated with poor health.

The Bank’s research indicates that unless substantially mitigated, nutritional deficiencies might incur
a global economic cost of approximately $180-250 billion within the next decade. However, the total
projected public investments to address these deficiencies are only expected to be around $4-5
billion.

Significance of “Zero Hunger by 2030”

The reason for mapping hunger is to ensure that the world achieves “Zero Hunger by 2030”— one of
the Sustainable Development Goals (Goal 2) laid out by the United Nations. Attaining zero hunger
necessitates addressing not only hunger itself but also the associated aspect of malnutrition,
emphasizing food and nutrition security. The official wording is: "End hunger, achieve food security
and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture”.

Currently, they are on a trajectory that falls significantly short of their target, according to the United
Nations' own assessment. According to the UN progress reports, there are approximately 150 million
children experiencing stunted growth globally, 41 million children under the age of 5 are obese, 1 in
3 individuals lack consistent access to sufficient food, and roughly 1 in 10 people face hunger-related
issues.

“India is the largest contributor of undernourished people in the world, with around 194.4 million
people, or 14.37% of its population not receiving enough nutrition.” (Worldometers,2018)

"The signs of increasing hunger and food insecurity are a warning that there is considerable work to
be done to make sure the world "leaves no one behind" on the road towards a world with zero
hunger. It is unlikely there will be an end to malnutrition in Africa by 2030.” (Worldometers,2018)

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Government Schemes to Tackle Malnutrition

The government has prioritized the fight against malnutrition and is executing multiple initiatives
such as Anganwadi Services, Scheme for Adolescent Girls, and Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana
Yojana (PMMVY) under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme, along with the
POSHAN Abhiyaan.

The allocation and utilization of funds under the POSHAN Abhiyaan and ICDS scheme from 2018-19
to 2020-21 are outlined as follows (Amount in lakhs):

The POSHAN Abhiyan commenced on March 8, 2018, in Rajasthan. The main aim of the initiative is
to underscore the nutritional health of adolescent girls, pregnant women, lactating mothers, and
children aged 0-6 years. Leveraging technology, convergence, and community involvement with a
targeted approach, the program seeks to reduce levels of stunting, under-nutrition, anaemia, and
low birth weight in children. Moreover, it focuses on the comprehensive management of
malnutrition by catering to the requirements of adolescent girls, pregnant women, and lactating
mothers.

Objectives:

 Prevent and alleviate stunting in children (0-6 years)

 Prevent and mitigate under-nutrition (prevalence of underweight) in children (0-6 years)
 Decrease the prevalence of anaemia among young children (6-59 months)
 Decrease the prevalence of anaemia among females in the age group of 15-49 years
 Lower the incidence of low birth weight (LBW)

The Poshan Abhiyaan involves several key components:

 Convergence: The initiative aims to coordinate efforts between different departments and
ministries, ensuring alignment with the target population. Achievable targets will be set, and
there will be joint meetings and monitoring to enhance coordination.

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  ICDS-CAS: Implementation of a software-based tracking system for nutritional status, along
with providing front-line workers with mobile phones and growth monitoring devices.
 Behavioural Change: The campaign will operate as a Jan Andolan, encouraging mass
participation through monthly community-based events to raise awareness and address
issues.
 Incentives: Front-line workers will be rewarded based on their performance.
 Training and Capacity Building: Adopting a learning approach, with 21 thematic modules
taught by Master Trainers to front-line workers.
 Grievance Redressal: Establishing a call center for easy access to solutions for any faced
issues.

Events under Poshan Abhiyaan include Community Based Events (CBE) occurring on the 8th and
22nd of each month, Village Health Sanitation Nutritional Day (VHSND) on the 15th of the month,
and Poshan Phagwada, which was celebrated from March 8-22, 2020, with a focus on increasing
male engagement to improve nutritional outcomes. The Poshan Pakhwada included various activities
planned at different levels, addressing anaemia and malnutrition, and involved meetings and
discussions.

Challenges towards POSHAN Abhiyan:”

Challenges with Data:

 Lack of credible data on a year-to-year basis; a 10-year gap between NFHS 3 and NFHS4 is
evident.
 Confusion and inability to cope with measurement procedures among poorly trained
Anganwadi workers may lead to inaccurate malnutrition data.

Lack of Adequate Access to Food:

 Ineffective functioning (corruption and leakages) of the public distribution system (PDS)
poses a major problem.
 Loss of food grains in warehouses (due to rotting and theft) exacerbates the issue.

Issues with ICDS:

 Major challenges include the supply of quality food and its uniform distribution.
 Anganwadi workers' low wages and inadequate training hinder their effective role in
addressing malnutrition.

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Cereal-Based Diet:

 Micronutrient deficiency is exacerbated by a cereal-based diet, with insufficient attention in

the National Food Security Act.
 Inadequate food fortification further compounds the problem.

Social-Economic and Cultural Challenges:

 Socio-cultural factors such as caste pose challenges in implementing nutritional programs.

 The failure of initiatives, like Hausla Poshan Yojana, due to caste-related refusal to consume
food highlights cultural obstacles.

Lack of Nutritional and Health Awareness:

 Lack of awareness, ignorance of healthy diets, and poor feeding and caring practices
contribute to malnutrition.
 Illiteracy among women and gender biases also present challenges.

Sanitation and Hygiene:

 Lack of sanitation, particularly due to open defecation, leads to diarrheal diseases,

contributing to stunting.

Financial Constraints:

 Budgetary allocations for many schemes have decreased over time, with unspent funds in
various states.

Way Forward:

 Early life-cycle interventions targeting the first 1,000 days of a child's life are crucial.
 ICDS, Mid Day Meal, and PDS should be reworked for greater effectiveness, encouraging
public-private partnerships to overcome challenges.
 Food fortification of staples should be extended, incorporating nutritious food and
diversifying diets.
 Targeting multiple contributing factors, such as water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), with a
focus on behavioral change, is essential.
 Aligning agricultural policy with nutrition policy and providing incentives for nutrient-rich
crop production is important.
 Real-time data collection and maintenance of reliable, updated data on various nutrition
indicators are necessary for effective interventions.

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Therefore, boosting nutrition levels is a significant opportunity in Indian public policy. Addressing
malnutrition requires concerted efforts, including targeted interventions, improved program
effectiveness, and awareness campaigns.”

Malnutrition, a business Case:

Research conducted by the World Economic Forum suggests that

the "business case" for companies engaging in hunger-reduction
efforts is diverse and varies based on industry, company, and
specific activities. According to various organizations, including the
International Business Leaders Forum and the Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR) initiative at Harvard’s Kennedy School of
Government, key components of this business case encompass:

 Pursuing new market and product development that is

commercially viable or has the potential for profitability through
market expansion and economies of scale.
 Fostering innovation within the company.
 Managing reputation and cultivating positive brand value by
aligning with initiatives that improve health and nutrition.
 Directly motivating employees through volunteering
activities and support for their research, and indirectly through
their association with a company addressing social issues.
 Strengthening community and government relations,
particularly in developing countries, and engaging with
international development agencies and non-governmental
organizations.
 Developing a healthy and productive local labor force in low-income countries and
communities.
 Contributing to economic development and building long-term markets by enhancing the
physical and mental development of future generations of consumers and workers.
 Enacting and embodying corporate values.

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Examples of Corporate Leadership:
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 JSW Steel Ltd.

Locations: Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal

Project Expenditure: INR 16 Cr.

1
Company's Prescribed CSR: INR 35 Cr.

1
JSW Steel Ltd. has undertaken various initiatives aimed at enhancing living conditions by
delivering quality healthcare services and nutrition to women and children in their operational
1
areas. Some of these activities include the Malnourishment Project, Mid-day Meals, General
Health and Cataract Camps, Drinking Water Supply, Artificial Limb Replacement, and Rural
Transformation Programme.

Impact: The project utilized a mobile phone-based application to conduct growth monitoring for
over 50,000 children, enabling digital data compilation. Spirulina intake has been administered to
25,000+ children (under 6 years) and lactating mothers, while prenatal care for 8,500+ pregnant
women has been tracked. Additionally, health care outreach efforts have positively impacted
over 2 lakh individuals, providing nutrition support to 35,000+ children and women.
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 Balkrishna Industries Limited

Locations: Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh

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Project Expenditure: INR 10.21 Cr.

Company's Prescribed CSR: INR 16.54 Cr.

Balkrishna Industries Limited has consistently prioritized CSR programs focusing on nutrition in
recent years. This year, their Providing Mid-Day Meal Program extended to four states, involving
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the provision of mid-day meals to school children and the establishment of kitchens for large-
scale meal preparation.

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Impact: The initiative has successfully provided mid-day meals to 110,000 school children in
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Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh. Additionally, a kitchen with the capacity to serve
approximately 50,000 meals a day has been constructed in Kutch (Gujarat).

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  Havells India Limited

Location: Rajasthan

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Project Expenditure: INR 2.64 Cr.

Company's Prescribed CSR: INR 14.82 Cr.

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Recognizing that 795 million people, or one in nine individuals, go to bed hungry each night, and
one in three suffers from some form of malnutrition, Havells India Limited has aligned its CSR
program with the critical issue of malnutrition. By taking ownership of the entire mid-day meal
value chain — from procuring food materials to food preparation, storage, and transportation to
schools — Havells ensures complete control over the quality and hygiene of the meals. This
approach resonates with the company's philosophy of delivering the highest quality in all its
offerings.

Impact: The company's initiation of the MDM program began by serving 1,500 children across 5
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schools and has since expanded to provide daily meals to over 60,000 students in 692 schools in
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the district. The state-of-the-art kitchen prepares fresh, hygienic, and nutritious food in
accordance with government-approved diet charts.

“Recommendations for Private Entities:

Combine global advocacy with national ownership:

• Strengthen ties between global advocacy campaigns and nationally-led initiatives.

• Cultivate synergies to harness political leadership in addressing malnutrition.

• Promote collaboration with national business coalitions to advance health, nutrition, and
education.

"Connect the dots" - Enhance links between various aspects:

• Foster collaboration among leaders in health, nutrition, economics, and business communities.

• Bridge the gap between public health and business-led solutions.

• Promote integrated approaches addressing governance gaps and market failures.

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Engage business beyond philanthropy:

• Promote corporate engagement based on core competencies and business models.

• Explore market-based solutions within an appropriate policy environment.

• Suggest incentives, such as tax benefits and awards, for companies fortifying foods.

Focus joint efforts on top priority and high-impact interventions:

• Identify specific country-level or sector-based priorities with measurable targets.

• Concentrate efforts on proven approaches like food fortification, breastfeeding promotion, and
health education.

Harness the potential of communications, public health campaigns, and information sharing:

• Utilize private sector expertise in marketing, advertising, and information technology.

• Consider establishing recognized seals for fortified foods or national micronutrient balance sheets.

Invest in 'action-learning' - simultaneous experimentation and evaluation of projects:

• Develop creative and cost-effective approaches for project evaluation.

• Provide experiential learning opportunities for companies and other actors to monitor and learn
together.

Identify and support internal champions and intermediary organizations:

• Recognize the critical role of champions and brokers within organizations.

• Encourage individuals or dedicated units to facilitate cross-sector partnerships and build necessary
relationships.”

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 References
CSRBox: https://www.csrbox.org/India_CSR_news_Here-are-10-large-nutrition-projects-through-
CSR-funding-in-India_423

Lancent: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(22)00050-
5/fulltext#:~:text=A%20recent%20study%20estimated%20that,was%20underestimated%20given%2
0data%20limitations.

HBR: Business as a Partner in Overcoming Malnutrition

https://www.hks.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/centers/mrcbg/programs/cri/files/report_14_NUTRI
TION%2BFINAL.pdf

FeedingIndia: https://www.feedingindia.org/blog/understanding-the-malnutrition-crisis-in-india/

Business Fights Poverty: https://businessfightspoverty.org/malnutrition-is-a-business-

issue/#:~:text=On%20average%2C%20a%20stunted%20worked,Alok's%20LinkedIn

Wikipedia : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malnutrition_in_India

Ministry of Women and Child Development Press release page :

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1781673

WHO Nutrition : https://www.who.int/india/health-topics/nutrition

UNICEF : https://data.unicef.org/sdgs/goal-2-zero-hunger/

Drishti IAS : https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/fixing-indias-

malnutrition-problem

Hindustan Times : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/over-14-lakh-children-severely-

malnourished-in-india-govt-101680100159342.html

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