By Daiaphira Kharsati
SHILLONG: Children in Meghalaya are not growing as fast as they should as per set health standard, diet scientist and professor in Montreal McGill’s School Harriet Kuhnlein said.
Speaking to The Shillong Times, Kuhnlein who carried out research on matrilineal society of Meghalaya and Chkesang tribe which is patrilineal in Nagaland, said that in comparison with international standards of height and weight, the children in state are not growing as per the standard.
Kuhnlein was one of the foreign delegates at the International Terra Madre (ITM) which was concluded on Sunday at Mawphlang.
“The place (Khasi Hills) is enriched with nutritious food and the Khasis know about variety of local food, but sadly children do not consume such food,” she said.
However, she indicated that it is not just in Meghalaya but all developing societies face the problem, and there is lack of nutritious food mainly in the third world countries.
Kuhnlein said, “Poverty, lack of education and some other societal factors also contribute to the problems in acquiring nutritious food.”
With regard to most youths getting attracted to new fast food chains that are cropping up in the food business arena, she has a message for the youths, “Take pride in the local culture and cuisine, use it and keep it alive and stay healthy.”
She said, “The Khasis will have to keep up the best whether, it’s language, food and learning to make a better world.” Kuhnlein
According to Kuhnlein, the research on Khasi society reveals that women are the one who make decisions on food, agriculture, and feeding the children and family,”
“Khasi women know a lot about seeds to be kept for the next season for farming, but women do need help from their husbands,” she observed. In her 35 years of researching different tribes, she found that each tribe has its own uniqueness.
“I have been to the Arctic where people eat only meat and fish; in the Pacific Islands, the people consume different kinds of bananas, whereas in the jungles of South America, the people survive on fish, plants and meat of birds.”
On being asked if the International Terra Madre (ITM), help in addressing concerns of the farmers, and marginalized societies, she said, “ITM certainly helps in raising awareness on local food habits. NESFAS is going to make a big difference.”
She added: “Intellectual exercise is important, the Chief Minister and his ministers are learning. ITM is a platform to showcase who local food can be a source of nutrition”.