Vardhan urges people to adopt healthy & balanced food habits

New Delhi: While stressing on the need to check the food waste in the country, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan has urged the people to adopt healthy and balanced food habits.

While addressing a function on first-ever World Food Safety Day, Vardhan said, "I appeal to all the people of India to make 'eat right' movement a 'jan andolan' with 'jan bhagidhari' just as we all had come together and made India Polio-free." "Food is everyone's responsibility. Let us pledge to not waste even one grain of food, and ensure that in our own personal capacities and in our institutions, contribute towards food security. It will help to eliminate poverty, hunger and malnutrition," the Union Health Minister said.

Outlining the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for New India, Vardhan said, "The New India vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi includes health, social security and nutrition. He has acknowledged the 'Eat Right Movement' of FSSAI in his Mann ki Baat programme."

"Health is not only the absence of disease and infirmity but the presence of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellness," he said.

The Health Minister also unveiled a statue of 'Gandhi on a bicycle' installed at the FSSAI complex. "As we commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Bapu, the statue symbolises his journey towards good health and it will constantly inspire people for emulating his good health practices," he said.

Notably, Health Ministry's research arm -- Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) which is headed by noted cardiologist Balram Bhargava --- has also decided to roll out a pilot project to propagate the Gandhian philosophy of health among children in schools.

The prime objective of the project, which is the brainchild of ICMR DG Balram Bhargava is to make the future generation of the country fit by educating children about healthy habits of Gandhi through different means of communication.