**Executive Summary**
The Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) conducted a webinar on May 29, 2026, focused on promoting balanced edible oil consumption to improve heart health in rural India. The event aimed to combat rising obesity and cardiovascular diseases by educating over 10 lakh Self-Help Group (SHG) members across 34 States and Union Territories. Key action items include the dissemination of healthy cooking practices and nutritional guidelines through grassroots community engagement.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Webinar Objectives and Outreach**
* **Targeting Rural Health:** The session addressed the "silent health crisis" of rising non-communicable diseases and obesity within rural populations.
* **Mass Participation:** Over 10 lakh SHG members participated, supported by officials from National, State, District, and Block levels.
* **Strategic Network:** Leveraging the DAY-NRLM network of 91 lakh SHGs (reaching 10 crore households) to drive nutrition awareness at the grassroots level.
**Dietary and Cooking Recommendations**
* **Oil Rotation:** Experts from ICMR-NIN recommend rotating between different oils, such as mustard, groundnut, sesame, and sunflower, as no single oil provides all essential nutrients.
* **Consumption Limits:** Visible fat intake should be restricted to a maximum of 30 grams per person per day for a standard 2000 kcal diet.
* **Safe Cooking Practices:** Avoid heating oils at very high temperatures for extended periods and strictly prohibit the repeated reheating of oil, which generates harmful compounds.
* **Reducing Processed Foods:** There is a critical need to move away from ultra-processed items, including chips, sugary drinks, and packaged snacks, to protect the health of future generations.
**Broader National Goals**
* **Economic Resilience:** Reducing excessive oil and fuel consumption is framed as a step toward national well-being and economic resilience.
* **Collective Action:** The initiative promotes the spirit of "Sangathan, Swasthya, Samriddhi" (Organization, Health, Prosperity), emphasizing that health improvements begin in the kitchen.
**Impact Analysis**
**Self-Help Group (SHG) Members**
**Impact**
SHG members are identified as trusted leaders and change-makers who are uniquely positioned to influence dietary habits within their villages.
**Action Required**
Members are urged to carry the message of balanced oil consumption to every household through monthly SHG meetings and regular community engagement.
**Rural Households**
**Impact**
These communities are increasingly vulnerable to obesity and cardiovascular diseases previously confined to urban areas.
**Action Required**
Families must adopt small but significant changes in daily dietary practices, such as limiting fat intake and avoiding the reheating of cooking oils.
**Ministry and State Mission Officials**
**Impact**
They serve as the administrative backbone for scaling health and nutrition awareness across 34 States and Union Territories.
**Action Required**
Officials must ensure the translation of webinar learnings into localized action and support the SHG network in sustaining health-focused community activities.
Key Entities Referenced
Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM): A flagship poverty alleviation program that organized the health awareness initiative and utilizes its network of over 91 lakh Self-Help Groups to drive nutrition awareness at the grassroots level.
Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD): The primary central ministry responsible for the oversight and implementation of the DAY-NRLM and its health-focused community outreach programs.
ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN): India's premier nutrition research body that provided technical expertise and set the dietary standards referenced during the webinar.
Dietary Guidelines for Indians: The official policy document issued by ICMR-NIN that outlines recommended daily fat intake and healthy cooking practices used to educate rural communities.
Ministry of Rural Development
DAY-NRLM Organises Webinar on "Organization,
Health & Prosperity: Balanced Oil Consumption
for a Healthy Heart and a Healthy Life
Webinar focuses on balanced intake of Edible oil for Healthy
Heart and Life.
Posted On: 30 MAY 2026 5:21PM by PIB Delhi
The Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), under the
Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), organised a webinar titled "Organization, Health & Prosperity:
Balanced Oil Consumption for a Healthy Heart and a Healthy Life". on 29th May, 2026 at 10:30 AM. The
webinar focused on the importance of balanced edible oil consumption in the context of rising obesity and
cardiovascular diseases among rural populations, and aimed to build awareness around healthy dietary
practices within communities.
The webinar was chaired by Shri T.K. Anil Kumar, Additional Secretary, MoRD, in the presence of Smt.
M.G. Jayasree, Joint Secretary, DAY-NRLM, and Dr Monika, Deputy Secretary (RL), DAY-NRLM. The
event was attended by Senior Officers at the National and State level, State Mission Directors, District and
Block level officials, and as per preliminary figures received, more than 10 lakh SHG members
participated in the webinar from across all 34 States and Union Territories.In his opening remarks, Shri T.K. Anil Kumar, Additional Secretary, highlighted that excessive use of oils
and fats in daily cooking is a key contributor to the silent health crisis in rural India. Emphasising the
DAY-NRLM approach of building healthier and empowered rural communities, he described SHG cadres
as leaders, change-makers and trusted voices in their villages. He referenced the Hon'ble Prime Minister's
appeal to reduce edible oil consumption, fuel consumption, and avoid non-essential purchases as a step
towards economic resilience and collective national well-being.
Smt. M. G. Jayasree delivered the welcome address and set the context for the webinar. She highlighted
that DAY-NRLM, with over 91 lakh SHGs reaching more than 10 crore households, is one of the world's
largest women-led community networks and is uniquely positioned to drive health and nutrition awareness
at the grassroots level. She emphasised that health challenges, including obesity and cardiovascular
diseases, are no longer confined to urban areas and are increasingly visible in rural households. Sheencouraged SHGs and community cadres to take responsibility for promoting healthier cooking practices,
noting that small changes if adopted by every SHG household, can lead to healthier hearts, healthier
families, and a healthier nation.
The expert address was delivered by Dr. Subba Rao M Gavaravarapu, Scientist G & Head, Nutrition
Information, Communication & Health Education (NICHE) Division, ICMR-National Institute of
Nutrition. He emphasised "India faces a triple burden of malnutrition - undernutrition, obesity, and rising
non-communicable diseases, and unhealthy fat consumption lies at the heart of this crisis. No single oil is
perfect; ICMR-NIN's Dietary Guidelines for Indians recommends rotating between mustard, groundnut,
sesame, sunflower, and other locally available oils in strict moderation, limiting visible fat intake to 30
grams per person per day for a 2000 kcal diet. Oils must never be heated at very high temperatures for
long durations, and repeated reheating of oils must be strictly avoided as it generates harmful compounds.
Moving away from ultra-processed foods is equally critical. Most worrying is our children growing up on
chips, sugary drinks, and packaged snacks - the habits formed today will decide the health of our nation
tomorrow."
In her closing remarks, Dr. Vasudha Shukla, National Mission Manager, DAY-NRLM, thanked all
participants for their enthusiastic engagement and noted that small changes in daily dietary practices can
have a significant and lasting impact on health. She urged all the SHG members to carry this conversation
forward to every Didi in their village through monthly SHG meetings and regular community engagement
activities, so that the message of balanced edible oil consumption reaches every household in rural India.
The webinar concluded with a shared commitment to translate the learnings of the day into action at the
grassroots level - that good health begins in the kitchen, and that every drop of oil saved is a step forward,
in the spirit of "Sangathan, Swasthya, Samriddhi.”
***
RC/PU
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