From Ration Shops to Nutrition Hubs: A Nutritional Revolution in the Making

• by Puneet Khanduja and Abhishek Jain
• Nov 14, 2024
• 3 min

A new initiative aims to transform Fair Price Shops (FPS) into ‘Jan Poshan Kendras,’ offering a variety of nutrient-rich foods to improve dietary diversity and public health. This project could revolutionize nutrition for millions in India. Read the blog to learn more.

Imagine walking into a local fair price shop (FPS) and finding not just rice and wheat but a vibrant array of nutrient-rich foods, from fresh vegetables to fortified grains and pulses. This would be a dream come true for someone like Lakshmi, a mother of three from rural India who relies on her local FPS to feed her family. Every month, she visits the nearby FPS to collect rice and wheat. Yet despite this access, Lakshmi struggles to provide her children with a balanced diet, because of the rising prices of vegetables, lentils, and milk.

For millions like Lakshmi, India’s Public Distribution System (PDS) has been a lifeline ensuring access to staple foods. While it has successfully addressed caloric needs, it falls short in providing a diverse and balanced diet. The National Institute of Nutrition’s “What India Eats” report shows that people’s reliance on cereals leaves significant gaps in dietary diversity, with insufficient intake of essential foods, such as legumes, milk, and vegetables. These deficiencies are a pressing public health concern. But what if FPSs can offer more?

A recently launched initiative by Union Minister Pralhad Venkatesh Joshi seeks to transform the role of FPSs to address this issue. It involves a pilot project to convert 60 FPSs into ‘Jan Poshan Kendras’ across Gujarat, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh. These nutrition hubs are set to provide a wider range of nutrient-dense foods at affordable prices while creating new income opportunities for FPS dealers. Here is how this transformation can succeed to nourish the families of millions of Indians like Lakshmi:

1) Identification of nutrient-dense commodities: The first step is to decide which healthy food should be sold in these hubs. These items must be prioritized based on their nutritional value and ease of inclusion. Priority should be given to non-perishable items with high nutritional value and ease of storage, such as pulses, fortified foods, and oil. As supply chains mature, perishable items, such as fresh vegetables and dairy, can be gradually introduced.

Nutritional Value and Ease of Inclusion in FPSs

2) Establishment of efficient supply chain and market linkages: A well-organized supply chain is vital to get nutritious food into these shops. This can be done through partnerships with FMCG aggregators, farmer producer organizations (FPOs), ministries, and cooperatives. Moreover, these supply chains must be integrated with market linkages to provide farmers with a reliable outlet for their produce and allow FPSs to access fresh and diverse food items at affordable prices.

A centralized digital platform that organizes ordering, invoicing, and analytics can make the process smoother. This platform will allow FPS dealers to place orders with different aggregators, track inventory, and monitor sales. FPS dealers must receive training to navigate this digital interface.

3) Diversification of products for profitability: Apart from nutritious food, FPS dealers can also sell other everyday items, such as cleaning supplies and personal care products. This will attract more customers, increase sales, and improve their income, making the nutrition hub a more financially viable model.

4) Community awareness and engagement: The success of nutrition hubs will depend on how well communities understand and embrace them. Awareness campaigns should be launched to inform families about the benefits of balanced nutrition and the availability of healthy food at their local FPSs. Frontline workers, such as Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) and Anganwadi workers (AWWs), can be vital to educate the community.

Monitoring the effectiveness of these campaigns will also be crucial to ensure that they reach the intended audience and lead to meaningful behavior changes.

Through strong partnerships, community engagement, and efficient supply chains, we can turn these shops into nutrition hubs that fight hunger and promote health and well-being. For Lakshmi and millions like her, this could truly be a nutritional revolution in the making.

This article was first published in the Krishi Jagran website on 6th November 2024.