News Highlights
The Prime Minister launched Mukhyamantri Matrushakti Yojana and Poshan Sudha Yojana in Gujarat.
Focus Points
- The schemes are launched under Integrated Child Development Services , Poshan Abhiyan.
Mukhyamantri Matrushakti Yojana
- Aim – The scheme aimed at dealing with dietary deficiency within the first 1,000 days of the conception of a child (from pregnancy to 2 years).
- Features
- It will cover 7 lakh women in Gujarat.
- The scheme will entail distribution of 2 kg chickpeas, 1 kg toor dal and 1 litre fortified groundnut oil.
- The entire scheme will be electronically monitored which means the beneficiary will receive OTPs confirming that they have received these packages, that beneficiary is actually receiving the ration
Poshan Sudha Yojana
- Aim – under which hot cooked meals will be provided to tribal women once a day at Anganwadi centres.
- The pilot has been carried out in 10 districts in the state and is now being extended to all 14 tribal-dominated districts.
- Features
- Under this scheme, pregnant women and lactating mothers registered at Anganwadi are provided a full nutritious meal.
- In addition, iron and calcium tablets as well as education on health and nutrition are also offered.
Relevance of Move
- According to experts, just 25% of children obtain this dietary diversity, while only 35% receive enough milk frequency, and this is the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) indication that is the most direct sign of child malnutrition.
- Gujarat, along with Uttar Pradesh, is at the bottom of the heap in NFHS 5, with the lowest appropriate meals for children aged 6 to 23 months, at 5.9% each.
- This is a critical period for cognitive development, as it affects the child’s IQ and cognitive development later on, with 80 percent of brain growth occurring by the age of two.
- If youngsters do not eat a balanced diet, their growth is stunted, and their height suffers as a result.
Content Source : Indian Express