India bans non-iodised salt - A Significant Step
Wednesday, June 15, 2005 was a special day for India’s children. On this day, the Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. A. Ramadoss announced the Government of India’s decision to re-instate the ban on the production and sale of non-iodised salt for human consumption. The Minister said that this move will reinforce India’s commitment to accelerate young child survival and development. This is a significant step, if the country’s annual 25 million newborns are to grow up protected from brain damage and irreparable physical harm. Minister Ramadoss announced the ban at a joint review meeting of the Reproductive and Child Health Programme organised by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Ministry of Human Resource Development and UNICEF. Health administrators, child development and nutrition experts, representatives from the salt industry, civil society organisations and the media were also present. The ban becomes effective from August 15th, India’s Independence Day. From then on all the salt produced and sold for human consumption in India would have to be iodised. This ban comes in again after a gap of about four years. According to the National Family and Health Survey-II, around 70 per cent of India’s population consumes salt with some amount of iodine. But only 49 per cent uses adequately iodised salt. However, this figure fell to 37 per cent after the lifting of the ban on the sale of non-iodised salt. Further, great variations also exist in the consumption of iodised salt, across socio-economic and urban-rural divide. The consumption of adequately iodised salt is significantly low among the rural masses, the economically backward classes and the members of the scheduled castes and tribes.
“Iodine Deficiency Disorder (IDD) is a major public health problem. Of the 312 districts surveyed by the Ministry of Health, 254 showed that people suffered from iodine deficiency. As a result the Tenth Five-Year Plan has aimed at universal access to iodised salt,” Minister Ramadoss said. “All children have a right to enjoy a secure and healthy childhood so that they can grow up to fulfill their full potential,” said Cecilio Adorna, UNICEF Representive to India. He appealed to all stakeholders - salt producers, traders, village level-vendors and the government, to see that the implementation process is successfully achieved. Widespread information and education is needed to spread the message that iodising salt is safe, simple and affordable, he added.
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