Shimla: Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, while chairing a meeting of Health Department here today, said that the state government would formulate the first-ever Nutrition Policy for the State to ensure holistic benefits to the people. He said that the state government was implementing several nutrition and food security programmes, including the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), Mid-Day Meal Scheme and the Public Distribution System (PDS). In view of these initiatives, nutritional profiling was of paramount importance, which would help in creating awareness among people about nutrients, caloric value and food fortification parameters.
The Chief Minister said that prior to finalizing the policy, the basic infrastructure related to nutrition and food testing was being strengthened across the State. As part of this initiative, the Composite Testing Laboratory (CTL), Kandaghat, would be upgraded and new laboratories will be established. In the first phase, a new laboratory would be constructed in Kangra district. In the coming years, regional testing laboratories will also be set up in other parts of the State. He said that the Stat Cabinet has recently cleared the proposal for establishment of new laboratories in Kangra, Mandi, Shimla and at Baddi in Solan district.
“The state government would provide Rs. 8.50 crore for strengthening the Kandaghat laboratory, while Rs. 25 crore would be released for setting up the food testing laboratory in Kangra district,” he said. The Chief Minister also directed that adequate manpower be ensured for the efficient functioning of these laboratories.
Principal Advisor (Media) to the Chief Minister Naresh Chauhan, Secretary to the Chief Minister Rakesh Kanwar, Special Secretary Health Jitender Sanjta and other senior officers were present in the meeting.
