Malkangiri: The state government has taken a host of measures including ‘sattu’ for Anganwadi children to ward off malnutrition. Malnutrition cases are found among tribal children in Malkangiri.
Bonda tribals, however, demanded that milk be provided to their children to keep malnutrition at bay.
According to reports, the state government spends crores of rupees towards development of Malkangiri, but there has been little improvement in curbing malnutrition cases among Bonda kids in Bonda ghati area under Khairput block.
It was alleged that kids of Bonda and Didai tribal communities are deprived of proper nutrition from sattu as provided to Anganwadi centres in the district.
In order to deal with malnutrition, the Didai Development Agency has come forward to deal with malnutrition. The agency with the help of an SHG has distributed milk to over a hundred Bonda children on an experimental basis.
The SHG will ensure quality milk to children and keep a watch on their health. The SHG members are taking care of children, ensuring kids put on clean dress and maintain sanitation.
The SHG members have set up special camps at Kirsanipada, Badapadar, Badhaguda and Padelguda in Mudulipada panchayat where they fed milk to children Thursday.
The parents of the children were explained about the importance of child care, nutrition and sanitation. Most guardians at these camps observed that their kids should be provided with milk instead of sattu in the morning and evening.
Thereby, their children will be physically and mentally fit to carry on their activities and studies, they said.
Director of Didai Development Agency Debasish Patra and other officials said that the agency will focus on providing more milk to the children on a priority basis.
PNN