INDIA Information Sheet 
                   
                     © International Affiliate of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics 2019 
                                                             
                   
                   
                  Credentialing Verification Authorities: The prerequisite to Life Membership to the 
                  Indian Dietetic Association is a qualified and trained professional in the field of 
                  Food Nutrition and Dietetics from a recognised University of India. The 
                  Association Accredits the training of Registered Dietitian through a National 
                  Registered Dietitian Board which has a standardised competency package of 
                  training in RD Board recognised hospitals for a duration of 6 months and the 
                  eligibility to appear for National RD Board Examination. Registered Dietitian title 
                  certifies your Quality Mark of training for a clinical setting of a hospital in India. 
                  However, it's not mandatory in India to be registered/licensed for practicing 
                  especially in fields like sports nutrition or food industry, but efforts are on to 
                  streamline the same at the National Level. 
                   
                  Official Language(s): English & Hindi 
                   
                                          Ongoing Nutrition Activities in India 
                   
                      1.  National Dietetic Association 
                   Indian Dietetic Association               NUTRITION SOCIETY OF INDIA  
                   Indian Dietetic Association (HQ)          National Institute of Nutrition Campus 
                   Silver lake terrace, Richmond road,       Indian Council of Medical Research  
                   Bangalore – 560025                        Jamai Osmania (P.O), near Tarnaka 
                   http://idaindia.com/                      X-road,  
                                                             Hyderabad - 500 007 
                                                             Telangana State 
                                                             India 
                                                             Phone : 91- 40 - 27197247, 
                                                             27197322  
                                                             Fax: 91-40-27019074 
                                                             Email : nsihyderabad@yahoo.com 
                   
                  2. National Nutrition Programmes/Projects  
                   National Nutrition Mission 
                   Integrated Child Development Services Scheme (ICDS) implements several 
                   programs to address the problem of malnutrition in India.  
                   POSHAN Abhiyaan (National Nutrition Mission) is a flagship programme of the 
                   Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD), Government of India, 
                   which ensures convergence with various programmes i.e., Anganwadi 
                   Services, Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), Scheme for 
                   Adolescent Girls (SAG) of MWCD Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), National 
                   Health Mission (NHM), Swachh-Bharat Mission, Public Distribution System 
                   (PDS), Department Food & Public Distribution, Mahatma Gandhi National 
                   Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and Ministry of Drinking 
                   Water & Sanitation. 
                   
                  3. Organizations working on Health & Nutrition 
                  a. National Organizations (Government) 
                   Integrated Child              FMCH India – Foundation       Society for Nutrition, 
                   Development Services          for Mother & Child Health     Education & Health 
                   Scheme                                                      Action (SNEHA)-
                                                                               Maharashtra  
                   
                  b. International Organisations 
                   UNICEF 
                   73 Lodi Estate, New Delhi 110 003, 
                   India 
                   Tel: 91 11 2469-0401, 2469-1410 
                   Fax: 011 2462-7521, 2469-1410 
                   Email: newdelhi@unicef.org 
                                                             
                  c. Educational Institutes (Nutrition Education & Research) 
                   National Institute of nutrition.                Nutrition society of India 
                   Mumbai University                               SNDT university 
                   IGNOU, Distance Education                       State University 
                   Lady Irwin, New Delhi                           Gujarat University 
                   
                  d. Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO's) 
                   Innovative Change Collaborative            Nutrition Foundation Of India  
                   (ICCO) 
                   The Indian Nutrition Initiative – TATA      
                   Trust 
        4. Assessment of Training Quality of National Dietitians, their Professional 
        Role and Prestige  
         
        Dietitians are mostly required to visit patients, ascertain likes and dislikes, etc. 
        similar to what Diet Technicians might do in the West. Depending on the practice, 
        they may be asked to counsel patients on their diet. Some also plan enteral 
        feeds, using commercial products or kitchen-prepared feeds.  Some of the 
        nutrition work such as diet counseling and nutrition support planning may be 
        done by physicians directly.   
         
        Dietetics is a low profile and poorly paid career and many opt out of it.  Those 
        who do rise to the top of the department, improve their competency and display 
        professionalism finally win the trust and regard of the hospital.  Thus in senior 
        positions, there are good dietitians upholding the profession, trying to raise the 
        profile of the dietitians, training the juniors, etc.  At lower levels, the dietitians do 
        not have the confidence of the physicians and are mostly only asked to do what 
        they can to optimize the intake. The regard in which the dietitians are held also 
        varies from hospital to hospital.  
         
        However, there is a good and much better change in Roles of Nutritionist/ 
        Dietician in India from before & importance is understood by many people but not 
        all. Along with that there is also rise in the number of Nutrition quacks practicing 
        without qualifications. 
         
        5. Brief Description of National Healthcare System and Private Practice 
         
        There is a dual system of private and Government-provided health care: The 
        Government has primary health centers at the village level, big hospitals at every 
        district HQ towns and in the state capitals. The treatment and medicines 
        (generic) are free. They are reasonably well-equipped. It is possible to find 
        dedicated doctors and good treatment in these hospitals, but they are also open 
        to abuse, poor hygiene and callousness.    
         
        Private hospitals again are of many kinds – from small poorly equipped ‘nursing 
        homes’ to modern state-of-the-art facilities second to none in the world. There 
        are also many independent clinics (consulting rooms) of doctors who are 
        affiliated to various hospitals.  
          
        ‘Mission’ hospitals have a service philosophy – having been originally started by 
        British Missionaries – and provide service at a reasonable cost.  They also have 
        ways of subsidizing treatment or giving free services to the needy.  There is a 
        level to fit every pocket!  
         
        People choose their physicians on the basis of their reputations and connections 
        with family or friends. There is no necessity to go to a GP first, and one is free to 
        consult any specialist directly. 
        6. Employment Opportunities Profile 
         
        The pay is very minimal, unless one can lobby for a high-profile job, such as in a 
        multinational company.  Regular jobs such as ones in the Government are 
        impossible to break into – unless one has entered at a young age by writing the 
        Public Service Commission Examination.  Teaching jobs too are very 
        competitive.  Private hospitals or companies who recognize the value of the RD 
        qualification and have the freedom to create a suitable post are the ones to 
        approach.  Again, the remuneration is low in the normal course. 
         
        In hospitals of repute, where internationally-trained physicians who recognize the 
        importance of nutrition are at work, one may expect a welcome.  The challenge is 
        to get the acceptance of the local dietitians who are used to a different 
        philosophy and approach! The other challenges are the languages and the food 
        knowledge. 
         
        There are many clinical and epidemiological research programs carried out by 
        many governmental and non-governmental organizations.  It would be quite 
        possible to approach one as a volunteer. 
         
        There is rise in number of private practicing dietician from before as there is 
        increase awareness among people around regarding foods nutrition. 
         
        7. Obtaining Work Permits 
         
        There are two ways for foreign nationals to obtain a work visa in India:  
          1.  A business visa is available if ones’ company has a contract with an 
           organization in India. 
          2.  A work permit is available if one has secured employment with an 
           organization in India. In this case the organization has to apply for the 
           visa. 
         
        If one is in India accompanying their spouse there will usually be a condition that 
        one is not allowed to take up employment. 
         
        8. Local Food Customs and Culture 
         
        India is a very diverse country, divided into states along language lines. There 
        are some fourteen official languages and many dialects. Each state has its own 
        culture, something like what you may find if you take Europe as a whole. In 
        addition, the influence of colonial rule by the British persists, such as English 
        being the working language in most places.    
         
        There are different food specialties belonging to every geographic area, religion 
        and caste. While the majority of the population sticks to its own cuisine, the 
        younger and more affluent enjoy trying many other cuisines, so that now some