EDITOR-IN-CHIEF.VINAY KOCHHAR/CHANDIGARH.
Families in Punjab rank fourth in the country in terms of expenditure on protein-rich foods, but women are not benefiting from this expenditure as much as men. Women in the state are consuming 11.17 percent fewer protein-rich foods than men.
According to a State Bank of India (SBI) report, 72.63 percent of men in Punjab eat three to four types of protein-rich foods, while this figure is 61.46 percent for women. This means that despite family expenditure on nutritious food, women’s diets are low. This concern is further compounded by the fact that 58.7 percent of women aged 15 to 49 in the state suffer from anemia.
₹1,342 per month spent on protein-rich foods
According to an SBI report, an average of ₹1,342 per family per month is spent on protein-rich foods in Punjab. The state ranks fourth in the country in this regard. Sikkim ranks first with an average expenditure of ₹1,776, followed by Goa at ₹1,711 and Haryana at ₹1,649. Punjab’s expenditure is lower than these states, but higher than most other states in the country.
On the other hand, the states with the lowest monthly expenditure on protein-rich foods include Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand. Odisha spends an average of ₹656, Chhattisgarh ₹729, and Jharkhand ₹774. However, a state’s nutritional status cannot be assessed solely based on expenditure. Food prices, family size, income, and food availability also play a significant role.
Major Gender Gap
Gender-Gender Differences in Protein-Rich Food Intake have been observed in other states besides Punjab. The gap is 22.75 percent in Odisha, 30.26 percent in Telangana, and 15.25 percent in Chhattisgarh. In Punjab, the gap is 11.17 percent. Statistics show that a family’s high expenditure on food does not necessarily provide equal nutrition to all members. The quantity and variety of food women receive in the household is also important.
58.7% of women in Punjab suffer from anemia
According to a central government report, 58.7% of women aged 15 to 49 in Punjab suffer from anemia. Anemia reduces the body’s hemoglobin levels, affecting the body’s ability to deliver adequate oxygen to various parts of the body. Anemia can increase health risks for women during pregnancy and childbirth. In severe cases, excessive bleeding during delivery increases the risk further.
Women should also have a balanced diet
Statistics show that the challenge in Punjab is not only to increase expenditure on nutritious food, but also to ensure that women in the family benefit equally from it. It is important to include pulses, milk, yogurt, eggs, and other protein-rich foods in the daily diet. Furthermore, regular checkups of women’s nutrition and health must also be addressed. The real test of nutrition is not how much a family spends on food, but how balanced and nutritious food every member of the family, especially women, is getting.###USA###CANADA###PUNJAB###CHANDIGARH###FOOD###WOMEN###AAP###CMMANN###BJP###CONGRESS###SAD###AUSTRALIA###NEWZEALAND###SINGAPORE###