'Traditional lifestyle key to solving nutrition problem'

BAMBOLIM: Vice-President of India Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday said the country needs to utilise all its technological knowledge and resources to ensure home-grown food security. He said another major problem facing the country is a different kind of hunger, that of various deficiencies. Naidu said only by drawing from India's cultural and spiritual knowledge and by going back to its traditional lifestyle, the problem of nutrition can be cured.
"We should also think of home-grown food security. You cannot depend on imported food security. We earlier had hunger. Now we have a hidden hunger which is not known to you. You go to the doctor and then you know of the deficiencies, like B3 etc," said Naidu. A change in the lifestyle of the younger generation needs to be brought about, he said.

Naidu was talking at the opening of the three-day SAGAR Discourse 2.0 conference organised by the Forum for Integrated National Security (FINS), an organisation of academicians, former diplomats, retired Army personnel and experts from varied fields. "We need to understand to know what is lacking in our body. The time is come to go back to our old lifestyle. With all the technology and knowledge, we need physical exercise, mental stability and peace. Our indian food is time-tested and according to seasons. However, now unfortunately we are changing and we are going for instant food," said Naidu.

Speaking on the subject of the conference which will deliberate on democratization of outer space, Naidu said, "This region has some of the fastest growing economies, abundant natural resources, young and vibrant population and some of the greatest scientists and technologies. At the same time, this region also faces security threats like cross-border terrorism, apart from population explosion, economical vulnerability and environmental issues. These problems do not have borders. We need to collaborate and make optimal use of the assets."

Unless these problems are addressed together, the future of humanity would be uncertain and India wants to take the role of a responsible power, he said.

"Threat to space system from debris and other irresponsible activities is adding to the complexities. Competitive approach and the important role played by space technologies in providing securities has heightened international community's interest in space," said Naidu.

Former ISRO chief Kiran Kumar, Goa governor Mridula Sinha and FINS president Lt Gen DB Shekatkar also spoke on the occasion.