State govt. to combat malnutrition among children through Chiguru scheme

The State government will combat malnutrition among children through Chiguru, a scheme aimed at involving the community, in select districts.

“It is among the top priority schemes of the department. The scheme aims at not only reducing but also eliminating malnutrition,” Women and Child Development Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar said.

She was speaking after the scheme for high incidence districts of Ballari, Bidar, Kalaburagi, Yadgir, Belagavi, Raichur, Chitradurga and Vijayanagara at an event at the Suvarna Soudha.

Chiguru is a community-based management of acute malnourished children (C-MAM) scheme. A technical protocol for C-MAM has been prepared in collaboration with UNICEF as per the document provided by the Central government.

It will be implemented to eliminate malnutrition in children according to the NFHS-5 survey.

Under the scheme, severely and moderately malnourished children without medical problems are provided with medical supplements and highly nutritious food.

“We believe that the nourishment of the child is not just the responsibility of the mother but also the responsibility of the entire family and the community. Under this scheme, close monitoring will be done through door-to-door visits for six months with the active participation of mothers and the community. UNICEF is also a partner in the scheme and training has been designed to provide complete information about the steps to be taken under C-MAM Intervention by UNICEF to anganwadi workers and supervisors,” she said.

She said that the Akka squad to protect women and girls will be launched across the State on Indira Gandhi’s birth anniversary on November 19.

“The pilot project in Bidar and other districts has proved successful. The squad will work in collaboration with the Women and Child Development Department and the Police Department. NCC students and women constables will be stationed near public places and women’s colleges. The 109 helpline has been launched for women’s security,” she said.

The State government’s montessoris will be started on the same day. Pilot montessoris in 200 anganwadis have succeeded. It will be extended to 5,000 centres. The golden jubilee of ICDS will be celebrated.

She said that following the successful ICDS model and implemented by the State, the Union government is recommending it to other States. She said that the State government is concerned about social evils like child marriages, teenage pregnancies and PoCSO Act cases.

It is putting in place a system to reduce their incidence. The Child Marriage Prohibition (Amendment) Act was passed in the last monsoon session. For the first time in the country, Devadasi survey and gender minority surveys are being conducted, she said.

To a query, she said that she has succeeded in getting additional grants for her department even though the BJP-led NDA government is ruling at the Centre. The centre has appreciated our work, she said.