Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal on Tuesday appealed to Indian companies to prioritise malnutrition eradication in their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, calling it vital for the nation’s long-term growth as well as corporate sustainability. Addressing the National CSR Conclave on “The Role of CSR in Nutrition Security and Reducing Malnutrition”, organised by the NDDB Foundation, Goyal said eliminating malnutrition is a key requirement for realising the vision of a developed India by 2047.
The minister stressed that addressing malnutrition demands an integrated and preventive strategy, particularly during pregnancy and early childhood. He pointed out that this phase offers immense opportunities for impactful CSR interventions.
Goyal highlighted that investments in nutrition-focused CSR deliver significant long-term benefits. “This is not philanthropy alone. It is a strategic investment in your company’s future,” he said, adding that healthier children today would form the workforce, consumer base, and economic drivers of tomorrow. He encouraged companies to see the mandatory 2 per cent CSR spending as a platform for innovation and growth rather than a statutory burden.
Calling for broader outreach, the minister urged corporates to expand CSR efforts beyond urban centres and reach underserved and remote regions.
Two CSR projects were inaugurated during the conclave. The Giftmilk Programme by SAIL’s Bhilai Steel Plant will provide vitamin A and D–enriched flavoured milk to nearly 4,000 government school students in mining-affected areas of Chhattisgarh. The initiative is being implemented in partnership with the Chhattisgarh Milk Federation under NDDB’s guidance.
Another initiative, IDBI Bank’s Shishu Sanjeevani Programme, aims to support approximately 3,000 children attending anganwadi centres in rural Nagpur, Maharashtra. The programme offers a fortified, energy-rich ready-to-consume nutritional supplement developed by NDDB and produced by the Bhandara Milk Union.
Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Rajiv Ranjan Singh praised the initiatives, emphasising that proper nutrition during early childhood and pregnancy is the most effective way to combat malnutrition. He noted that milk and dairy products contribute 25 to 35 per cent of daily protein needs, making them critical for children’s physical and cognitive development.
Singh highlighted that India, the world’s largest milk producer, has a per capita milk availability of about 450 grams per day. Ensuring access to dairy products for children, he said, would significantly improve health outcomes. He underscored the importance of collaboration among government bodies, corporate entities, non-profits, and cooperatives to achieve a malnutrition-free nation, in line with the Prime Minister’s vision.
The conclave was attended by Union Ministers Annapurna Devi, Krishan Pal Gurjar, S. P. Singh Baghel, and George Kurian, along with senior officials including Cooperation Secretary Ashish Kumar Bhutani, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Secretary Naresh Pal Gangwar, Women and Child Development Secretary Anil Malik, and NDDB Chairman Meenesh Shah.
