Case Study of the Day: Supplementary Nutrition Program

Background

In the State of Telangana, traditionally under ICDS-Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP), nutritive food was being provided to pregnant and lactating women at the Anganwadi centre as Take Home Ration (THR).

About Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP)

• The Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP), a component of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme of the Government of India, is an agri-food value chain-based public food distribution initiative to ensure that vulnerable groups get the required nutrition.
• Food distribution is a major component of ICDS, and SNP is the largest feeding programme focused on improving the nutritional status of children and women in India.
• Social protection programmes like SNP play a food safety-net role for the vulnerable groups.
• The categories and provisions under SNP in Telangana are as follows:
  • Pregnant and lactating women
    • The government runs a ‘One Full Meal’ programme for pregnant and lactating women called Arogya Lakshmi, with the objective of reducing maternal and infant mortality.
    • The initiative ensures compliance with the intake of required iron supplements by pregnant women and can be seen as addressing the needs of the mother and infant during the first 1000 days.
  • Children
    • SNP targets the reduction of undernutrition in children below 6 years of age through the provision of therapeutic food and freshly-cooked meals.
• The scheme though led by the state, there is scope for active engagement of the business and private sectors and civil society for effective delivery under these initiatives.

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