A new partnership could introduce iron-fortified snacks into India's free meal scheme for children, boosting nutrition levels and potentially improving school performance.

The Strategic Foresight Group writes,

"A new public-private partnership between the governments of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry, and the food company Britannia could have a significant long term impact on the health of impoverished children. As part of the tie-up, the company will provide iron-fortified biscuits as snacks to Mid-day Meal schemes across the state and union territory.

The Mid-day Meal scheme is part of the Government of India’s attempt to provide nourishment to children aged 6-14; under the scheme, all children who attend government schools are served lunch free of cost. The scheme has been implemented with varying levels of success in different states in India. In Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry, the scheme is highly successful, leading the governments to attempt to take a further step and increasing the nutritional value of the meals."

Implications

The Strategic Foresight Group writes,

"Schemes like the Mid-day Meal and food security initiatives such as subsidies and the Right To Food Act have ensured that a section of the Below Poverty Line (BPL) population has a minimum amount of food to eat. However, the food is not necessarily nutritious." SFG explains that increasing nutrition iron levels in the Midday Meal scheme could boost school performance (data has shown a direct relationship between nutrition and grades/engagement, and anaemia is a problem in India's children); and overall reduction of malnutrition in the country.

SFG adds that "if this public-private partnership proves to be fruitful, there is a greater chance of it being replicated for different projects. If increased nutrition levels are recorded as a result of the programme, this could spread to other states that also have Mid-day Meal scheme."

IFTF adds that this strategy could signal a focus in the hunger community away from 'food' and toward nutrition. Mid-day Meals is not a new program, but thinking of food security in terms of nutrition might be a new framing of policy interventions for alleviating hunger.