Shimla

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday announced that the state government will frame its first-ever Nutrition Policy to ensure comprehensive health and nutritional benefits for citizens. He also said that Rs 25 crore will be released for setting up a food testing laboratory in Kangra district.

Chairing a meeting of the Health Department here, the Chief Minister said the state is already implementing several nutrition and food security programmes, including the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), the Mid-Day Meal Scheme and the Public Distribution System (PDS).

Given the scale of these initiatives, Sukhu stressed the importance of nutritional profiling, noting that it would help create awareness among people about nutrient content, calorific value and food fortification standards.

He said the government is strengthening basic infrastructure related to nutrition and food testing before finalising the policy. As part of this effort, the Composite Testing Laboratory at Kandaghat will be upgraded and new laboratories will be established across the state.

In the first phase, a food testing laboratory will be constructed in Kangra district. In subsequent years, regional testing facilities will be developed in other parts of Himachal Pradesh. Sukhu said the State Cabinet has already approved proposals to set up laboratories in Kangra, Mandi, Shimla and Baddi in Solan district.

“The state government will provide Rs 8.50 crore for upgrading the Kandaghat laboratory, while Rs 25 crore will be allocated for establishing the food testing lab in Kangra,” the Chief Minister said. He also directed officials to ensure adequate staffing for the smooth and efficient functioning of these facilities.

Principal Advisor (Media) to the Chief Minister Naresh Chauhan, Secretary to the Chief Minister Rakesh Kanwar, Special Secretary (Health) Jitender Sanjta and other senior officials attended the meeting.

Earlier, on January 14, Sukhu had reiterated the government’s plan to introduce a State Nutrition Policy aimed at ensuring access to balanced and nutritious food for vulnerable sections, including children, adolescent girls, and pregnant and lactating women, during a review meeting of the Department of Health, Safety and Regulation.

He expressed concern over rising health issues linked to poor nutritional quality and pesticide residues in food, stating that the government is addressing both challenges with a focused and solution-oriented approach.

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The Chief Minister also said the state continues to strengthen its healthcare system, with efforts underway to adopt world-class standards in medical education, establish intensive care units in every medical college and maintain globally accepted doctor-patient ratios in hospitals.