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Towards hunger elimination

Staff Reporter

I.K. Gujral launches “World Food Programme Trust for India”
M. S. Swaminathan ‘moving spirit’ behind the move

NEW DELHI: To commemorate the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, former Prime Minister I. K. Gujral launched a charitable trust called “World Food Programme Trust for India” at his 5 Janpath residence here on Thursday.

Mr. Gujral, who has been named the Trust’s first chairman, said Mahatma Gandhi’s commitment to serving starving people across the country had motivated and inspired him and other trustees. “We want to work for the cause of elimination of hunger. The Father of the Nation said things are done by making the first effort, so one shouldn’t be cynical to the birth of this small group that will definitely work for the bigger cause to wipe out the scourge of hunger. The Trust intends to raise resources from the private sector to work with the Central and State governments to eradicate malnutrition and hunger, especially among women and children.”

Complimenting the veteran agriculture scientist M. S. Swaminathan for being the moving spirit behind the new Trust, the former Prime Minister said: “Swaminathan personifies effort. When we were completely without food, he made us self-sufficient. Swaminathan has been campaigning for a hunger-free India. He will guide us in a non-official capacity.”

‘Hunger-free India’

Noting that a hunger-free India was the topmost priority of the Trust, Dr. Swaminathan advocated action at the local level. “To tackle malnutrition, local bodies will have to promote community food and water security systems. The food basket must include a wide array of millets such as ‘ragi’ besides legumes, veggies and tubers. Food-cum-micronutrient supplementation and efficacious fortification approaches would have to be adopted wherever hidden hunger from the deficiency of iron, folic acid, iodine, zinc and Vitamin A in the diet is endemic. I also feel every panchayat could invite a science graduate in their area to serve as nutrition adviser.”

Agenda of action

Expressing gratitude to the trustees for coming together to help poor women and children suffering from malnutrition, UN World Food Programme representative and Country Director for India Mihoko Tamamura said the goal of a hunger-free India can be achieved only through an agenda of action.

“The new Trust will be a catalyst of turning this vision into reality. It is imperative that all segments of the population work collectively to address such high rates of hunger and malnutrition. The launch of the Trust comes at a very appropriate time as recent increases in food prices have put an additional stress on our population,” she said.

Pointing out that India was home to nearly a quarter of the world’s hungry poor, trustee Atul Sinha said the Trust was set up to bridge the gap between undernourished people and the government and international bodies.

“It is the coming of age of civil society. A lot of corporate houses have shown interest and we will now have to chalk out the modalities.”

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