New Delhi: India must turn the fight against malnutrition into a collective national movement driven by government, industry and civil society, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Tuesday, calling Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) a key pillar in ensuring nutrition access, affordability and last-mile delivery.
Speaking at a CSR Conclave on Nutrition organised by the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) in New Delhi, Goyal said eliminating malnutrition is central to India’s long-term social and economic future and must not be viewed as the responsibility of the government alone. CSR spending, he said, should be treated as meaningful social investment rather than a statutory obligation.
He stressed the importance of a coordinated “whole-of-government” approach involving multiple ministries, noting that NDDB is helping connect corporate partners with grassroots communities. Expanding access to nutritious food such as milk and fish, he said, is critical to tackling childhood and maternal malnutrition and preventing long-term health deficits, PIB India reported.
Goyal urged companies to go beyond minimum CSR compliance, describing nutrition funding as an investment in India’s future workforce and consumer base. He also called for wider public participation and said social contribution should be seen as a shared responsibility.
Goyal also wrote in a post on X that under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, eliminating malnutrition and strengthening nutrition security have been made a national priority, reinforcing India’s commitment to inclusive development and rural livelihoods as the country moves towards a developed nation.
Minister of State for Cooperation Krishan Pal Gurjar said CSR has become a powerful tool for social transformation, highlighting NDDB’s nutrition initiatives in aspirational and tribal districts as examples of effective cooperative-driven delivery models.
Both Ministers said India’s campaign against malnutrition must expand rapidly to match the pace of poverty reduction, with the goal of ensuring that no child remains undernourished.
