April 11, 2007
Madhya Pradesh Nutrition Policy
Draw Activists' Ire
Bhopal
The Madhya Pradesh government's plan to enhance the nutritional
value of food provided to children under the Integrated Child
Development Scheme (ICDS) is being met with skepticism by activists
who question the new nutrition policy.
"The state government has decided to provide 20 different kinds of
meal including kheer pudi, laddoo, mathri to the children in place
of daliya (roasted gram). The choice about the kind of meal would be
made on the basis of local food habit in a particular area," says
Kusum Mehdele, women and child welfare minister.
While the centre and the state government will share the expenses
equally, the latter has set Rs.1.55 billion as its share.
Funds for the policy has been increased to Rs.3 billion for the
current fiscal (2007-08) as against Rs. 1.1 billion during fiscal
2006-07
Though Mehdele hopes that the policy would be a boon for the
malnourished children, health activists don't agree with her.
"Do you think a child in 0-3 years age group who requires
micro-nutrients would do well with halwa-puri?" asks Sachin Jain of
Right to Food campaign.
"We have been demanding since long that there should be at least two
aanganwadi workers, each with one helper, at every centre, but to no
avail."
But the minister denies that the government was unaware of the
situation.
According to her, the government has sanctioned opening of 9,914
aaganwadis or care centres under the ICDS during 2007-08 to take the
facility to all the municipal corporations, municipalities and town
local bodies.
"Also, a survey to identify poor children below six years, expectant
and nursing mothers and girls has been carried out and supplementary
diet of 10 gram proteins and 300 calories is given to them for at
least 300 days," said Mehdele.
As many as 367 ICDS schemes are being run in the state. As part of
the schemes, health check ups and vaccinations are being conducted
every month.
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