Mumbai: The state’s budget allocates Rs 914 crore for the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and while there are a plethora of government schemes to fight malnutrition, children like 18-month-old Sonali Bhasker are falling prey to malnourishment.
Mahendra Gaikwad, the deputy CEO of Karjat district, said, “I am personally monitoring the malnutrition situation. We are taking the help of NGOs to spread the word about dealing with malnourishment with people residing in the area.”
Agreeing that some children are being deprived of healthcare facilities, Mr Gaikwad said, “Every day we provide a banana and an egg to the small children along with paste rich in nutrients so that we can curb malnutrition. Unfortunately, however, due to illiteracy, people from these areas are falling in clutches of blind faith rather than consulting physicians,” Mr Gaikwad added.
The government has initiated measures to eradicate malnutrition in the state such as creating awareness and reaching out to infants suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition and Moderately Acute Malnutrition.
Mr Gaikwad said the Take Home Ration (THR) programme, public distribution system, status of Supplementary Nutrition scheme are among the 17 schemes are being implemented by the state government to combat malnutrition while malnourished children and expecting mothers were being given ready-to-use therapeutic food products.
