Jajpur: Nothing has changed after the malnutrition death of several children in Jajpur district seven years back as the lingering malady continues to haunt the children in the state, a report said Wednesday. While the Jajpur administration is yet to wake up and take remedial steps, realising the gravity of the situation, the state government has prepared a blueprint to address the problem. The matter came to the fore after the state Women and Child Development department in a meeting decided to prepare an action plan on reducing the number of children affected by acute malnutrition to zero by the end of 2023, June 8, this year. The meeting was convened following filing of public interest litigation (12966/2023) by social activist Mantu Das in the Orissa High Court on the issue.
Moreover, all the district Collectors were directed to include children, including the school-going and those out of school, in their respective districts under the food security scheme floated by the state government. Attending the meeting, the state Chief Secretary directed to launch programmes on a mass scale to uproot malnutrition in the state and ensure the availability of the benefits of welfare schemes to all eligible beneficiaries. Reports said several children residing in Sukinda and Danagadi blocks in Jajpur district are afflicted with malnutrition. Rescue of three children severely affected by malnutrition from Tata Colony Anganwadi centre by director Lingaraj Panda of the state Women and Child Development Department and their subsequent admission in the nutrition rehabilitation centre (NRC), July 14, 2023 is a case in this point. The state government is spending a lot in preparation of ‘sattu’ which is provided as a nutritious food to the children. Funds worth Rs 17 crore are being spent on preparation of ‘sattu’ through 16 self-help groups (SHGs) in Jajpur district. It is alleged that some of the SHGs have turned it into a business and are more interested to earn profits. This has defeated the government’s plan of eradicating malnutrition.
In his petition Das had alleged that over 50-60 children residing in Kiajhar, Ranagundi, Salijanga, Nadiajhar, Trijanga in Danagadi block have been afflicted with malnutrition while naming 14 of the affected children. The Orissa High Court heard the matter and directed the state government to take necessary steps on reducing the number of malnourished children. The meeting also decided to issue directions to state School and Mass Education department to provide dry ration and study materials to children who are unable to study in schools either due to physical disability or health-related reasons. The school authorities will have to visit the houses of such children on a regular basis. They will visit the houses of children on the first seven days of the reopening of schools and encourage the guardians to admit their wards in the schools. They should ensure that no child is deprived of availing of education. The Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare department was also directed to ensure that no beneficiary is devoid of benefits under National Food Security Act and state food security scheme.
If a person does not have an Aadhaar card, they should be provided a ration for three months and an Aadhaar card has to be prepared for them during this period. The Chief Secretary also directed the state Women and Child Development Department to launch a campaign to identify children suffering from acute malnutrition and provide them with necessary treatment. The district Collectors, Panchayati Raj, Drinking Water Supply, Health and Family Welfare departments were also directed to take necessary steps to remove malnutrition.