Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
Issues relating to poverty and hunger.
4) Private sector can play a significant role in addressing the nutritional woes of India. Analyse.(250 words)
Yojana magazine, May 2018 (Nutrition) issue
Why this question
Although government has taken several measures and introduced many schemes to address the issue of malnutrition in India, the efforts have not been enough in addressing the problem. Therefore if private sector can supplement the role of the govt, then it would hasten India’s progress towards a healthy society. The issue is related to GS 2 syllabus under the following heading-
Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
Issues relating to poverty and hunger.
Key demand of the question.
The question wants us to bring out the role private sector can play in addressing India’s nutritional woes (malnourishment as well as obesity). We have to express our understanding of the issue and discuss how it can be done.
Directive word
Analyze- We have to dig deep into the question and discuss the need to rope in private sector and the role it can play in addressing the nutritional problems of India.
Structure of the answer
Introduction – Present some statistics about the severity of malnourishment in India- its prevalence, and also obesity. Mention the SDG of ending malnutrition by 2030.
Body–
- Discuss the need to bring in private sector. E.g mention a few important govt schemes aimed at ending malnourishment and argue that despite so much efforts the progress has not been upto the mark; and given the severity of the problem and need to achieve SDG means that the efforts have to be scaled up.
- Discuss how private sector can play a role n addressing the nutritional problems of India.
E.g Attracting/ influencing customers to purchase nutritional products, Tech-enabled nutrition awareness and service delivery, Influencing cooking practices through awareness programmes and strategies, Workplace nutrition programmes, CSR support for nutritional programmes etc.
Conclusion- based on the above discussion, form a fair and a balanced opinion on the overall issue.
