Tuesday, March 29 2005 10:44 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has approved the setting up of a Food and Nutrition Security Watch (FNSW) in the Planning Commission to monitor implementation of programmes like public distribution system and food-for-work.

Other major programmes like the Integrated Child Development Schemes (ICDS) and Mid-day Meal would also come under the FNSW's scanner, an official release said yesterday (Mar 28, 2005).

The FNSW would commission studies on food and nutrition security issues and publish a national status report every year on food availability and accessibility, assess the impact of ICDS, food-for-work and mid-day meal and rural employment guarantee programmes and list food insecurity 'hot spots'.

Its members would include economists, sociologists, nutritionists, social activists and NGOs with experience in the area of food security.