The state government on Thursday accepted in the assembly that 40% children in the state suffered from malnutrition.
The state government on Thursday accepted in the assembly that 40% children in the state suffered from malnutrition.
Women and child welfare minister Anandi Patel replied in the affirmative when asked whether the government was aware that 40% children, of up to 5 years, in the state were malnourished. She said this in a written reply to a question by Congress MLA from Umreth, Lalsinh Vadodia. The minister replied that the government had taken various steps to tackle the issue of malnutrition among children.
She said the government had introduced Bal-Bhog scheme to
address micronutrient malnutrition among children. The scheme consists of various nutritional programmes, including fortified blended food, fortified flour and nutritious candy.
In tribal talukas, children are provided 100 ml pasteurized, flavoured milk twice a week under Doodh Sanjeevani Scheme. Annaprashan Day is also celebrated in the state. Patel also informed the assembly that children in the anganwadis are provided seasonal fruits twice a week. She said that hot snacks prepared with fortified flour are served to children.
She added that the state government has also set up 52 Child Development & Nutrition Resource Centres (CDNC) for providing proper treatment and adequate nutrition to extremely malnourished children. NGOs say that the high malnutrition levels in Gujarat are disappointing, but also accept that the government has initiated effective measures to tackle the problem. "It is a shame that 47% children in an economically well-off state like Gujarat are malnourished. The state is at par with UP and some other states as far as malnutrition among children is concerned," said Indu Capoor, director, Centre for Health, Education, Training and Nutrition Awareness (CHETNA).
She said that the state government has started focusing on nutrition among children, and has taken intensive steps to address malnutrition in the last two years or so. She added that the government was speaking to several stakeholders in a bid to tackle the problem.
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