Indira Gandhi National Open University Maidan Garhi New Delhi

Leadership programme on Nutrition Security and Sustainable Development for May 2010 session

To sensitise and guide policy makers and the programme leaders to rely more on evidence based programming for achieving Nutrition Security and Sustainable Development

Duration and Eligibility: This one month duration programme will be conducted online and graduates in any discipline are eligible for admission

Preference will be given to those who are working in the field of nutrition sector, including policy makers and programme implementers, civil society and public health nutrition professionals

The last date for submission of application is 15th April 2010

The costs of malnutrition are very high: a vicious intergenerational cycle of poor health, high death rates, poor quality of life, decreased mental capacity and reduced worker productivity that can be estimated at more than 10 per cent of lifetime earnings for individuals and 2-3 percent gross domestic product for the nation. This means that improvement in nutrition is important for a healthy and productive life as well as for continued economic growth and development.

Nutrition security is broadly defined as physical, economic and social access to and utilization of an appropriate, balanced diet, safe drinking water, environmental hygiene, and primary health for all.

Although India has made tremendous advances in science, medicine, information technology and many other fields, and has experienced unprecedented economic growth over the past decade, malnutrition remains unacceptably high. India, with perhaps the worst malnutrition problem in the world, continues to rank poorly on the human development scale.

Malnutrition in India persists despite an apparent surplus of food grains highlighting that national food security at the national level alone is not sufficient to attain nutrition security at the household and individual level. Nutrition security then is dependent on several inter-related factors such as access to food, community and household level food distribution, poverty, equity, access to health services, education levels, access to safe drinking water, environmental sanitation and hygiene and cultural beliefs and practices.

In order to improve nutrition security in the country the govt has been implementing a number of direct as well as cross-cutting programmes related to nutrition. There are, however significant gaps in public sector efforts underlining the need for greater focus on the household and community level rather than merely at the national or state level.

The programme on Nutrition Security and Sustainable Development under the aegis of IGNOU undertakes to review the current situation in India, the complex causes of poor nutrition, and evidence of what works to improve nutrition.

Admission: Admission will be available throughout the year. There will be four cycles in an academic year i.e. February, May, August, and November. The two month period between each of the two cycles will be used for advertising the course and registration of the students for the next cycle. The registration form will be available online at www.ignouonline.ac.in/save. Registration will be confirmed only after verification of the certificates and payment of the required admission fee. Facility for online payment is available through the payment gateway (Axis Bank and credit card) being offered by the University for online programmes. Students can also pay through demand draft (in favour of IGNOU, New Delhi).

Integrated multimedia courseware: Once registered, learners will have access to a personalized learning space (my page). This includes self-instructional material, related audio/ video, slides and self-check exercises, accessible on one platform.

Online counseling and mentoring: IGNOU offers web-based counseling. The counselors have experience in public health, nutrition and other related disciplines.

The programme Co-ordinator, Leadership programme on nutrition security and sustainable development, block no 1, room no 21, IGNOU, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi-110068, Email edrsusd@ignou.ac.in, Tel 01129571121