Bangalore: On the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti on October 2, the Karnataka Chief Minister launched the Mathru Poorna scheme meant to meet the nutritional needs of pregnant and lactating mothers.
The scheme provides free mid-day meals for 25 days in a month to pregnant and lactating women in rural areas. These meals will be served at the anganwadis in the villages.
The meal will include rice, sambar/dal, green vegetables, pulses, egg and 200 ml milk. If the women do not prefer egg, they will be offered two kinds of sprouts.
The state government has set aside Rs 3,000 million during the 2017-18 financial year for the implementation of the scheme.
“The meal has been planned keeping in mind the nutrition index required for mothers. The aim is to improve maternal health, which will impact the child’s nutritional needs. This is aimed at reducing child malnutrition and in turn curb infant mortality. It will also help reduce anaemia among mothers,” said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
These meals will be served to women from the beginning of their pregnancy and six months after they deliver their babies. The scheme extends to all 30 districts in Karnataka.
A committee headed by the respective district Deputy Commissioner will be formed to monitor the implementation of the programme. Pregnant or lactating mothers should come to anganwadi centres for the meal.
“Despite the Supplementary Nutrition Programme (of the Ministry of Women and Child Development), the improvement in the maternal and child health indicators of Karnataka has been slow compared to the rest of the south Indian states. Mathru Poorna scheme has been launched to improve maternal and child health,” a statement released by the Department of Women and Child Welfare said.
source: News Minute