Mukhyamantri Suposhan Abhiyan: 2.65 lakh children overcome malnutrition

One lakh 50 thousand women are free from anemia

Raipur, TNINS 

In order to break the vicious cycle of malnutrition in the state, 2 lakh 65 thousand children, out of the 4 lakh 34 thousand children coming under the purview of malnutrition, have been successfully cured in the last four years. Under the campaign, one lakh 50 thousand women have been freed from anaemia. It is noteworthy that on the initiative of Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel, Suposhan Abhiyan was commenced from October 02, 2019. Under the campaign, hot-cooked nutritious food is being provided to the malnourished children of age up to six years and anemic women in the age group of 15 to 49 years.

Apart from the Mukhyamantri Suposhan Abhiyan, the state government has paid due attention to various aspects of nourishment ranging from pregnancy to safe delivery, to the healthy development of mothers and babies. As a result, the mother mortality rate has also come down from 159 to 137. Earlier, there was no provision of any kind in case the second child was also a daughter. To bridge this gap, the state government has launched the 'Kaushalya Matritva Sahayata Yojana'. Under the scheme, Rs 5,000 is being provided to pregnant women in one go. This would play an important role in ensuring the nutritional security to the expectant mother and her child.

The state government has taken major strategic steps to ensure nutritional security of women and children. Special care has been taken to ensure that no family remains hungry in the state. According to the 2011 census, the state government has achieved the goal of 100 percent food security i.e. enured food security to 2 crore 61 lakh beneficiaries under 'Universal PDS'. Chhattisgarh government distributed free rice to 64 lakh Antyodaya, priority, single destitute and disabled ration card holders from April 2022 to December 2022 as per the prescribed monthly eligibility and additional eligibility. Taking this forward, Chief Minister Mr. Baghel has announced to supply free rice of monthly entitlement from January 2023 to December 2023 as well.

The state has taken major steps ahead from mere food security to proper nutritional security. Taking the characteristics and preferences of the local food and drink into consideration, the state government is distributing fortified rice containing iron folic acid to ensure nutritional security in 12 districts under 'Midday Meal Scheme' and 'Poorak Poshan Aahar Yojna'. Taking this forward, Chief Minister Mr. Baghel has announced distribution of fortified rice to PDS ration card holders in all the districts from April 2023. This will go a long way in the direction of providing nutritional security to the families in the state.