TOPIC: Nourishing to flourish

Improper protein uptake

Ensuring efficient & reasonable supply of protein rich foods to the affected

Team Details:-

Anurag Kumar Kyal, Nikhil Kumar Singh, Pratik Mahapatra Snehasis Patra, Subham Debnath

KIIT School of Biotechnology, KIIT University

is the condition that results from eating a diet in which certain nutrients are lacking, in excess or in wrong proportions

Getting inside the science of proper nutrition we have the following facts:

• Nutrients involved to sustain life are carbohydrates, fats, proteins, water and micro quantities of vitamins & minerals

• Carbohydrates and fats are energy giving food & are required in large quantities

• Proteins though required in lesser quantity are the most important component for nutrition

• Vitamins & minerals are required in micro amount & their activities are regulated by proteins

Protein are the building blocks of the human body. From digestion of food to utilization of digested food all are controlled by enzymes – which are proteins. Even antibodies – major component of immune system are proteins.

• Staple foods in India are carbohydrate rich but lack proteins: India’s staple food is wheat and rice both of which are rich in carbohydrates but are low in proteins

• Misconception in masses – energy giving food is required to build body: Misconception persists amongst the masses that energy giving food is necessary for proper growth causing dependence on carbohydrate and fat rich food, leading to deficiency of proteins

• Comparatively higher cost of protein rich food: Protein rich food are higher in cost, so undoubtedly the affected population prefers low cost energy rich food

• Flaw in the Public Distribution System (PDS): PDS concentrates on feeding the unprivileged but does not focus on proper nutrition of the lowly. The consumable components of PDS are wheat, rice & sugar - all carbohydrate rich food and have very low protein.

PROPOSED SOLUTION: Making available protein rich food to the masses at a subsidized rate through a well connected network

We intend to provide egg and pulses at a subsidized rate to meet the gap in the protein uptake of the affected population. Using Public Distribution System for this, integrating pulses and eggs as the fourth consumable would be very feasible and would ensure proper supply.

Why PDS? - It is the most spread and established network of the government to feed the lowly - The objective of PDS is to provide food items at a very affordable price - PDS is a well established system for distribution - Recent steps to digitize the PDS is gonna make it very efficient - PDS already has 3 major food components, thus adding a protein rich component

Why pulses? - India is the largest producer of pulses in the world - Pulses are abundant in proteins - It contains some of the most important micro-nutrients

Why eggs? - Pulses alone would only be able to cover a fraction of

the targeted population - Complimenting pulses with eggs would ensure overall

coverage - India is one of the largest and fastest growing producer

of eggs - 50% of India population is non-vegetarian

Pulses & eggs together would ensure meeting the demand of entire population

- For ease of management and feasibility of the proposed solution we intend to follow the distribution criteria of PDS

- Stipulated quantity of pulses/eggs would be provided at a subsidized rate to all families under poverty line

- A family would be entitled to either one of the protein rich food for a month

- The above prices are as average reference, actual prices would vary per state depending on supply, demand and PDS network (similar to other components of PDS)

- Like in the case of rice, wheat and sugar; the FCI would be responsible for procurement and supply of pulses/eggs to the respected states

- The pattern of cost sharing between the center and state government would be as per present norms of PDS (90:10 for north eastern states; 50:50 for other states)

Component Limit (per month per family)

Avg. Market rate (Rs.)

Avg. subsidized rate (Rs.)

Pulses 1 kg 80 / kg 20 / kg

Eggs 20 pcs 4 / pc 1 / pc

- Families under poverty line are the biggest victims of malnutrition - PDS presently is able to meet 20 crore of such families

Keeping the above facts into consideration we can make the following assumptions:

For Eggs: - Targeted population: 10 crore families - Annual Requirement: 2400 crore pcs - Cost incurred(approx): Rs. 7200 crore

$ 1.2 billion

For Pulses: - Targeted population: 10 crore families - Annual Requirement: 12 lakh tonne - Cost incurred(approx): Rs. 7200 crore $ 1.2 billion

Total cost incurred to the center and state governments annually: $ 2.4 billion (approx)

Cost to GDP of India annually : 2.95% ~ $ 55 billion

- Accordingly the proposed solution would directly impact nearly 100 crore people - Though it would take time but overall effect would be significant

• Study of automation of PDS in Himachal Pradesh by Himachal Pradesh university • www.wikipedia.com • www.pdsportal.nic.in • FAO corporate document repository • Ministry of consumers affairs and public distribution • Consumption pattern of pulses, vegetables and nutrients among rural population in India (African

Journal of Food Science Vol. 4(10), pp. 668-675, October 2011) • Report of the working group on public distribution system and food security, GOI 2007 • http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com • http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com • www.hindustantimes.com • www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ • http://www.worldpoultry.net/Broilers/Markets--Trade/2011/8/USDA-review-Indian-egg-and-poultry-

production-WP009262W/ • nutritiondata.self.com/‎ • fciweb.nic.in/ • http://www.who.int/research/en/ • http://www.unicef.org/nutrition/index_statistics.html