Uttar Pradesh govt’s ‘desi ghee’ boost under nutrition mission
BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE EXTREMELY MALNOURISHED KIDS, PREGNANT WOMEN AND LACTATING MOTHERS
VARANASI : The Uttar Pradesh government has from December 2020 been providing ‘desi ghee’ and power milk to extremely malnourished children up to five years of age and pregnant women and lactating mothers.
The beneficiaries, registered with anganvadi centres in Varanasi district, will be given a fixed amount of ‘desi ghee’ and powder milk every three months, besides monthly dry ration under the nutrition mission of the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS), said a senior officer of the women and child welfare department.
The scheme has been l aunched with an aim to improve the beneficiaries’ nutrition, health and education and for their physical and mental development, the officer said.
Child development project officer (city) Manoj Gautam said: “Extremely malnourished children up to five years of age will be provided 900 grams ‘desi ghee’ and 750 grams of powder milk every three months. These children will also be given 1.5 kg of rice and 2.5 kg of wheat every month.”
Lactating mothers, pregnant women and non-school going girls (11-14) will be given 450 grams ‘desi ghee’ and 750 grams powder milk every three months.
Dry ration, including 1 kg rice, 2 kg wheat and 750 grams daal will also be given to them every month, he added.
A survey was carried out in the district to identify pregnant women and lactating mothers as the department already has data of extremely malnourished children.
The survey identified 30,000 women, including needy pregnant and lactating mothers. All these women were registered with anganvadi centres so that they could get the ‘desi ghee’ and powder milk free of cost under the nutrition mission, the officer added.
In November 2020, there were 3,118 extremely malnourished children in the district, he said.
District programme officer Iftikhar Ahmad said, “The mission to provide the food stuff to the beneficiaries is aimed at improving their health and to ensure proper mental and physical development of the children.” Ahmad says dry ration is given to them monthly.