September began with torrential rains every where. As if HINI virus is not enough for the miseries, chickengunya and dengu have made a come back. These are cataclysmic times. We have to face them squarely. It seems India has weathered twelve months of financial crisis. GDP of India is around six percent with reasonable industrial and agricultural growth, but the nation has failed to ensure that a fair share of growth accrues to people of the lowest strata of society.

More than 3000 Indians a day die from malnutrition - babies and toddlers - and yet the press focuses on Swine Flue. On September 9 Google India listed 49000 stories on Swine Flue and just 2500 stories on malnutrition.(The Hindu, 15 Sept.,2009) This news item speaks volumes about the health situation of our country.

Nutrition it seems is nobody’s responsibility. Reducing malnutrition is not just about health, agriculture, or economics. It is also about policies, governance and power. Some how India must be saved from the duality of being an economic super power and a nutritional weakling. By lifting the curse of malnutrition the country cannot only raise the stature of children but also its standing in the world.