In its biggest fight against 'hidden hunger', the Narendra Modi-led government has chalked out a mega plan to alleviate malnutrition through biofortified food crops.

As more than 38 per cent of children in the country suffer from stunting, and over 58 per cent of them are affected by anaemia, the government seems to have geared up to fix the curse of malnutrition.

For the first time, top officials from more then a dozen central ministries will hold a brainstorming session to overcome the major problem which impacts human health, particularly that of children under five years of age.

Hidden hunger or malnutrition not only affects human health, but also hinders the growth of the nation. However, biofortified crops have the potential to fight hunger and alleviate malnutrition.

From protein-packed rice to zinc-fortified lentil, the new varieties developed in the country would serve as "sanjeevani" (life-giving mythical herb) for the overall health of the children and their parents living in poverty.

 Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani and over a dozen secretaries of various ministries, ranging from Commerce to MSME and Food Processing to Education are meeting to expedite the plan to alleviate malnutrition.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier dedicated 17 biofortified crop varieties to address India's food and nutritional security.

"We no longer need medicines to fight protein or vitamin deficiency. If biofortfied varieties of cereals or pulses are provided to the children, they would overcome such deficiency. The Department of Food and Public Distribution is also being included in the plan so that such food is delivered to the remote areas," an official said.

A report of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) reveals that biofortified food crops help in preventing diseases besides maintaining the body metabolism for physical and mental well-being.

The ICAR report says that 21.9 per cent of Indian population still lives in extreme poverty where malnutrition results in major health issues. As many as 38.4 per cent of children are stunted, and 21 per cent are wasted (thin). Besides, 58.4 per cent of children and 53 per cent of adult woman are affected by anaemia.

The report says that 70 per cent of children in India are estimated to be iron deficient. The one prominent way to address these health issues is to provide biofortified food to the children. The report says that ICAR and state agriculture universities have made significant progress in developing 71 biofortified varieties of 16 different crops.

(IANS)