While India’s healthcare budgets are not high, the country has been at the forefront of addressing micronutrient deficiency, through innovative policies. From tackling iodine deficiency through universal salt iodisation to addressing iron deficiency via Anaemia Mukt Bharat, the success stories show that if Centre and states are aligned and there is an overall strategy, micronutrient deficiencies can reduce.
Today Vitamin D deficiency is a silent epidemic – with one in every five Indians suffering from this deficiency. Its consequences are far-reaching: rickets in children, poor foetal bone development among pregnant women, and osteoporosis in adults. There is now an urgent need to replicate the success stories of the past in addressing the iodine and iron deficiency.
Let us look at Anaemia Mukt Bharat. Launched in 2018, under the National Health Mission by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), it is based on a 6x6x6 strategy which targets 6 vulnerable groups through 6 key interventions and 6 institutional mechanisms to effectively reduce the prevalence of anaemia by 3% per year. Reaching nearly 450 million people across the country — the programme focuses on children (6–59 months and 5–9 years), adolescents (10–19 years), women of reproductive age (14-49 years), pregnant women, and lactating mothers. Its six core interventions combine preventive and corrective measures; ranging from iron and folic acid supplementation, biannual deworming, year-round behaviour change communications, routine testing and treatment, to mandatory provision of iron fortified foods through government programmes, and targeted actions on non-nutritional causes like malaria. The six institutional mechanisms that enable smooth implementation includes inter-ministerial coordination, convergence with related ministries, strengthened supply chains, capacity building of health and community workers, continuous monitoring through a digital dashboard, and active community engagement to sustain behavioural change. Together these interventions have positioned Anaemia Mukt Bharat as India’s one of the most comprehensive and impactful programmes, globally.
Leaning from this, the rising incidence of Vitamin D deficiency can be best tackled by first launching a nationwide campaign on “Vitamin D Kuposhan Mukt Bharat”, followed by an announcement in the Union Budget 2026-27, linking it to existing schemes/initiatives. The campaign will serve as a national platform to build awareness, help build and coordinate efforts across stakeholders and provide a structure for implementation. Under this, an inter-ministerial committee with representatives from the Centre and states can develop an action plan, set activities and targets for different ministries/departments, estimate fund requirements, scale up best practices and launch pilot projects.
To optimise resources, reduces costs, improves patient comfort, ensure data collection and help in identifying the vulnerable groups, Vitamin D testing can be integrated into the blood testing under Anaemia Mukt Bharat.
Vitamin D supplements can be given to the high-risk population groups — children, pregnant women, and the elderly. Supplements should be made accessible through health centres across the country and a package of practice have to be developed for treatment.
Vitamin D fortified milk and edible oil is already mandated to be distributed through public distribution programmes like PM POSHAN. However, in many states, fortified milk and oil are not reaching through these programmes. Partnering with organisations such as UNICEF, GAIN, NDDB, etc. can strengthen procurement and distribution systems and address supply-chain constraints to ensure the consistent year-round availability of Vitamin D fortified foods.
The Vitamin D Kuposhan Mukt Bharat campaign can be used to strengthen capacity-building and training of frontline workers. ASHA and Anganwadi workers can be trained to spot early symptoms of the Vitamin D deficiency, promote safe sun exposure and advise on dietary sources. Training packages can be created and certificates can be given to track how many workers have been trained. Through a campaign, knowledge can be shared at community levels, schools and academic institutes. Aware citizens can themselves take measures to address the deficiency.
To conclude, as India moves from malnutrition to nutrition security, multiple micronutrient deficiencies can be addressed by scaling up success stories and through innovative policies.