Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, while heading a Health Department meeting in Shimla on Wednesday, said the state government will frame its first-ever Nutrition Policy. He also announced that ₹25 crore will be released for setting up a food testing laboratory in Kangra district.
The Chief Minister said the state government is implementing several nutrition and food security schemes, including the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), the Mid-Day Meal Scheme and the Public Distribution System (PDS).
Keeping these programmes in view, Sukhu said nutritional profiling is extremely important. He said it would help people become more aware of nutrients, calorie intake and food fortification standards.
He said that before finalising the Nutrition Policy, the government is strengthening basic infrastructure related to nutrition and food testing across the state. As part of this effort, the Composite Testing Laboratory in Kandaghat will be upgraded and new laboratories will be set up.
In the first phase, a new food testing laboratory will be established in Kangra district. The Chief Minister said regional testing laboratories will also be set up in other parts of the state in the coming years. He added that the State Cabinet has recently approved new laboratories in Kangra, Mandi, Shimla and 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,” Sukhu said. He also directed officials to ensure adequate manpower for the smooth 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 at the meeting.
Earlier, on January 14, Sukhu had said the government would formulate a State Nutrition Policy to ensure access to balanced and nutritious food for vulnerable groups such as children, adolescent girls, and pregnant and lactating women.
He expressed concern that poor nutritional quality and the presence of pesticides in food were contributing to rising disease levels. Sukhu said the state government is taking both issues seriously and is working on effective solutions.
The Chief Minister said the state government is continuously strengthening the health sector. He added that world-class standards are being adopted in medical education, ICUs are being set up in every medical college, and hospitals are maintaining a global-standard doctor-patient ratio.
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