Govt schemes help address malnutrition: Minister Sharan Prakash

Bengaluru, Jan. 30: Admitting the challenge of growing malnutrition among women and children, Dr. Sharan Prakash Patil, Minister for Medical Education, Skill Development and Livelihood, urged the people to make use of the central and state government schemes to address malnutrition. The minister was addressing the gathering at a private hotel here on Tuesday after inaugurating a two-day workshop on Food, Nutrition, Health-Hygiene & Wash organised by National Livelihood Mission.

Expressing concern over the growing malnutrition among pregnant women and children in Kalyana Karnataka region, the minister stressed on the need to eradicate poverty and illiteracy in the society to get rid of malnutrition. “In order to address malnutrition among the children, our government is providing eggs to schoolchildren twice a week and those who don’t consume eggs would be provided banana and chikki. Our government has launched Anaemia Mukta Poushtika Karnataka (Anaemia-free Nutrition Karnataka) scheme to address anaemia and malnutrition among newborns, children, teens, pregnant and lactating mothers. This will improve the situation gradually,” Dr. Patil said.

Emphasizing on the importance of women’s role in making any scheme successful, the minister stressed on the need of women self-help groups. “The Sthri Shakthi women self-help groups started by former CM SM Krishna in 1999 did a great job in improving rural economy. Dharmasthala Rural Development self-help group and many organizations have helped women become economically self-reliant. The society today needs such organizations. Karnataka has become a role model in the country in empowering women, our schemes are being applauded at national and international level,” opined the minister.

EXHIBITION DRAWS ATTENTION:

The exhibition which is being organised as part of the workshop has attracted many people. More than 19 states including Karnataka, Kerala, West Bengal, Manipur, Assam, Sikkim, Nagaland and Mizoram participated in the exhibition highlighting nutritional food for children, preventing malnutrition deaths, improving pregnant women’s health and locally produced products.

Senior officials including Uma Mahadevan, Additional Secretary, Skill Development department; Smriti Sharan, Joint Director, Rural Livelihood Mission; PI Srividya, Director, National Livelihood Mission; Anupama, Chief Operating Officer, KMAS and others attended the programme.