DEHRADUN: In order to boost nutrition levels of nearly 1.2 lakh children at dozens of
Anganwadi centres across the state, each severely malnourished child in
Uttarakhand
will now get 200 ml milk in addition to her normal diet twice a week, while severely malnourished children will get 400 ml milk.
The decision was taken after chief minister
Harish Rawat on Saturday met with senior officials of the women empowerment and child welfare department here. Rawat added that the process of including milk in the children’s diet will begin from Nagal, Hatnala and
Shahasradhara Anganwadi
centres in Dehradun and will expand to the rest of the state over the next two months. “Once the initiative takes off in Dehradun, it will start in other Anganwadi centres as well,” said Rawat.
There are 32,000 Anganwadis in the state, with Rs 6 per child allocated for breakfast and lunch every day. For breakfast, children are given either murmura, bhuna chana, biscuit or ilaychidana with namkeen. For lunch, they are given either khichdi, daliya, pulao or bharva parantha.
Emphasizing on the need to take more measures to for the welfare of the children, Rawat asked officials to ensure that these kids are medically examined on the 5th of every month at the centres in the presence of department officials. “It will be mandatory for department officials to be present during the chek-up,” the chief minister added.
Rawat pointed out that the state government will fully bear the expenses incurred on increasing nutrition levels and treatment of these children in all Anganwadi centres across the state.
The CM said he will also ensure that it is implemented on the ground to improve the welfare level of the children, particularly the malnourished and severely malnourished ones.
Members of different social and apolitical organizations have hailed the initiative. “Including milk in the diet of these kids and conducting their health checkups regularly may help transform their life for better future,” said a social activist in Pauri.
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