Junagarh: Kalahandi district has once again appeared on malnutrition map of the state with reported cases of over 130 children suffering acute malnutrition (red zone) under Junagarh block.
Notably,the state government has spent over Rs 1 crore on various nutrition schemes and programmes in the district but all of the programmes have gone for a toss in the block,. Allegedly, supply of low quality whole grains and cereals like Chhatua, Chikiladu and Suji have given rise to such a precarious condition.
Also read: Expo captures malnourishment scene among children in Angul
The state government supplies these items to expecting mothers as well as mothers who have delivered and children through Kalahandi Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), in order to assure everyone of a healthy diet and nutrition.
Reacting to this, Junagarh Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) Sanjukta Behera said, “We are checking the qualities of supplied Chhatua, Chikiladu and Suji, every month. However, the number of children suffering from malnutrition nowadays has gone down than previous figure”.
Local denizens and intelligentsia have demanded intervention of Kalahandi district Collector Gavali Parag Harshad and sought proactive measures, by taking it as a matter of urgency.
PNN