States » NorthPosted at: Oct 22 2026 4:28PM


Himachal approves Nutrition Policy 2026 to combat malnutrition, promote traditional diets

Shimla, Oct 22 (UNI) The Himachal Pradesh government has approved the Himachal Pradesh Nutrition Policy, 2026, aimed at combating malnutrition, anaemia and micronutrient deficiencies, improving dietary diversity and addressing emerging diet-related diseases.
The policy emphasises the promotion of traditional Himachali foods, seasonal fruits, pulses, millets, green leafy vegetables, dairy products and other locally available nutritious ingredients to improve public health and encourage healthy eating habits.
Adopting a life-cycle approach to nutrition, the policy places special emphasis on the first 1,000 days of life, maternal and child nutrition, adolescents and vulnerable sections of society. It seeks to ensure access to safe, nutritious and affordable food while promoting balanced and culturally acceptable diets that can be incorporated into daily household meals.
Special attention will be given to people living in remote and tribal areas to improve their access to nutrition and healthcare services.
The policy envisages coordinated efforts by the Departments of Health and Family Welfare, Women and Child Development, Education, Agriculture, Horticulture, Food and Civil Supplies, Jal Shakti, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, along with other concerned departments.
To strengthen interdepartmental coordination, planning, implementation and monitoring, the government proposes to establish a State Nutrition Coordination Cell (SNCC) and District Nutrition Coordination Cells (DNCCs).
It also seeks to strengthen nutrition-related interventions under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), PM POSHAN and the Public Distribution System (PDS), alongside greater community participation and behaviour change communication.
Strengthening food safety infrastructure and surveillance is another key component of the policy. It envisages upgrading the Composite Testing Laboratory (CTL) at Kandaghat and establishing four laboratories in the state, besides creating and filling the posts required to support these initiatives.
The process of establishing a new laboratory at Dharamshala has already been initiated. The proposed measures are expected to improve food quality monitoring, detect adulteration and contamination, and ensure compliance with prescribed food safety and nutritional standards.
The policy also proposes laboratory-based surveillance, mobile food testing facilities, water quality monitoring and digital integration of nutrition-related data through a proposed State Nutrition Portal.
These initiatives are intended to facilitate evidence-based decision-making, strengthen monitoring and enable timely corrective action.
Chief Minister Sukhu said the state government was committed to building a healthy, well-nourished and empowered Himachal Pradesh. Nutrition was fundamental to human development, and every child, woman and citizen must have access to safe, nutritious and affordable food, he added.
He said the policy provided a comprehensive framework to address nutritional challenges through coordinated efforts by all concerned departments, with particular emphasis on vulnerable communities and people living in remote areas.
Strengthening food testing laboratories, improving food quality surveillance and promoting traditional Himachali diets would play an important role in safeguarding public health, he said.
The Chief Minister said the government would also encourage community participation, raise nutrition awareness and promote healthy eating habits while strengthening the implementation of existing nutrition and food safety programmes.
He expressed confidence that effective implementation of the policy would help reduce malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies, improve the health of future generations and contribute to the overall socio-economic development of Himachal Pradesh.
UNI BN
Tags: #Himachal approves Nutrition Policy 2026 to combat malnutrition# promote traditional diets
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