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India

WFP India Country Brief, November 2016

Attachments

Highlights

  • With Kerala and Tamil Nadu adopting the National Food Security Act 2013 (NFSA), it is now being implemented across the country. WFP is supporting the national government and states of Odisha and Kerala for improved efficiency and effectiveness in NFSA implementation.
  • A WFP-sponsored high-level government delegation visit led by Honourable Union Minister for Food, India, visited the WFP Centre of Excellence (CENEX) in Brazil. The delegation was accompanied by WFP India Country Director.
  • The proposal for setting up CENEX in India is being worked out in collaboration with the Government of India.

Operational Updates

  • A steering committee meeting for CENEX took place on 01 November to finalise the proposal. The last steering committee meeting was held on 21 November to discuss the rules, resolution and MOA for CENEX. The same will be finalised this month.
  • In collaboration with Government of Odisha, WFP completed the initial rollout of Fair Price Shops automation in 5 FPSs on 20 November. Kerala adopted the National Food Security Act (NFSA) on 01 November and has begun distribution of rations as per new NFSA entitlements for priority households.
  • In collaboration with the Government of Odisha, WFP intends to fortify school meals with multiple micronutrients to assist 200,000 school children aged 6-14 years through the Mid-day Meals Scheme. The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and Indian Institute of Public Health, Bhubaneswar (IIPH-B) are undertaking the baseline survey for the project. In Kerala, WFP is focusing on reducing micronutrient malnutrition among young children below 3 years of age by providing fortified blended foods as take-home rations through the ICDS scheme. The Government Medical College has completed the baseline data collection. The distribution of fortified foods is due to begin next month.
  • An agreement was signed with the Government of Odisha to institutionalise food security analysis and vulnerability mapping in the context of the Zero Hunger Challenge and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2. To this end, WFP is supporting a government technical agency, the Poverty and Human Development Monitoring Agency (PHDMA), by establishing a Food Security Monitoring Cell. Collation and analysis of secondary data is ongoing.
  • WFP is participating in national level discussions on the SDGs, target formulation and indicator finalisation as a part of the United Nations team, specifically for SDG-2. WFP is also co-convener of the results group on zero hunger and rural poverty along with FAO.