At a meeting of stakeholders, Naveen Jain (chief of state’s unit of the National Health Mission (NHM) said some assuring words on the problem of malnutrition in Rajasthan, that the scheme of community-based management of acute malnutrition will play an important role in bringing Rajasthan out of shackles of malnutrition.
He said that, ” This national policy will ensure uniformity. Through this policy, one can ensure more attention and funds for both the health department and the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS)”.
During the first phase of programme, 9,117 children were recorded as free from malnutrition after a scheme of special feeding and regular monitoring was executed.
Director of ICDS, Dr. Samit Sharma mentioned that the only best way to deal with malnutrition is for NGOs to partake in government programmes in place of running parallel programmes. Dr. Sharma also said, ” CSR (corporate social responsibility) can also help ICDS department with IT, consultants and monitoring of projects”.
Subodh Agarwal (Principal secretary of department of food and civil lines supplies) mentioned that, not only kerosene, wheat and sugar, commodities like double-fortified salt are given through the state’s public distribution system.
Malnutrition is growing epidemic in the state. Keeping this in mind Rajasthan Government is putting special efforts in eliminating this root problem. Recently, Annapurna Rasoi Yojna in the state is intending to bring unprecedented flair of nutrition in the state. Under this scheme, state government will provide lunch and dinner at the price of Rs. 8 per plate and breakfast plate at Rs. 5 per plate. All other additional cost will be handled by state government.
This pioneer step by the state government will help in keeping the state away from the ill-fated starvation situation. The scheme of state government will be not less than a boon for the underprivileged section of the state.
