Tribal school students to get nutritious food

Tribal school students in Adilabad district will have a surprise of sorts waiting for them once they rejoin their educational institutions after Dasara vacation. The menu in their schools will include honey, the forest produce which Adivasi children relish most but which has gone scarce as a result of decimation of forests.

The food served to tribal children in hostels managed by the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA), Utnoor, has now become the focus of a study aimed at inducting changes in the menu in order to improve the overall health of the students. All the changes which are on the anvil will be implemented October onwards, according to the ITDA Project Officer R.V. Karnan.

Nutrition, or lack of it, plays a key role in all problems related with health of Adivasis in the agency area in the district. This is a good reason for incorporating changes in the menu of school students numbering about 45,000 studying in 152 Ashram High Schools, Residential Schools, mini Gurukulams and Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas.

It has been observed that Adivasi children shun certain vegetables like potatoes which constitute an alien food item for them.

They are however, comfortable eating other kinds like beans and some leafy vegetables which are usually grown in their homes back in the villages.

“This is why we are handing over the work of supply of vegetables to local self-help groups. The groups will also be supported by the ITDA in raising kitchen gardens and backyard poultry,” Mr. Karnan revealed of the efforts being made to improve health of tribal children.

The ITDA has, in fact, been trying various food items to be served in its educational institutions since the last six months.

“These items have been tried based on the nutritional needs and preferences of the children,” the Project Officer observed.

For example, students liked the multigrain biscuits. “We also want to cut down on rice and provide a better balanced diet,” Mr. Karnan added.

The impending changes will also see iron tablets being administered to Adivasi students, especially the girls, with lemon juice. This is aimed at improving the haemoglobin content in the blood of the children.

Malnutrition among children under five years of age

As per the last National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-3 (2005-06) carried out by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India, 42.5% of the children under 5 years of age are underweight. However, the provisional India Fact Sheet of the Rapid Survey on Children (RSoC) commissioned by Ministry of Women and Child Development with assistance from UNICEF India has been released. As per these figures, there is a reduction in underweight among children under 5 years of age from 42.5% in NFHS-3 to 29.4% as per RSoC.

As per NFHS-3, the latest nationally representative data, the prevalence of underweight in children under 5 years of age in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan is 37%, 42.4%, 55.9% and 39.9% respectively.

The Government has accorded high priority to the issue of malnutrition and is implementing several schemes/programmes of different Ministries/Departments through State Governments/UT Administrations. This Ministry is implementing Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme, Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (RGSEAG) namely SABLA, and Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojna (IGMSY) as direct targeted interventions.

This information was given by the Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt Maneka Sanjay Gandhi in reply to an unstarred question in the Rajya Sabha today.

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Decline in Child Sex Ratio in Tribal population

  As per the Census 2011, the Child Sex Ratio (0-6 years) among Scheduled tribes population has shown a decline from 972 females per 1000 males in 2001 to 957 females per 1000 males in 2011. 

To address the issue of declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR), in age group of 0-6 years, Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (BBBP) programme has been launched by Ministry of Women and Child Development. The Scheme is intended to improve Child Sex Ratio across the country with the focussed intervention & Multi-Sectoral Action in 100 gender critical districts including tribal areas. The total project cost of the programme for the 2 years and 6 months is Rs. 199.99 crore with 100% Central Assistance.

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs in consonance of Article 275 (1) of the constitution of India the Government ensures welfare of women while providing grants to the States/ Union Territories under Special Central Assistance to the Tribal Sub-Plan. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs implements schemes, which are focused on the upliftment of tribal girls and women in the field of education and employment. Details of the funds allocated under the schemes being run for the welfare of the tribal population including tribal women are as under:-

S.No	Programmes/Schemes	Budget Allocation (BE) 2015-16(In Crore)
1	Strengthening Education among Scheduled Tribe Girls in Low Literacy Districts	40.00
2	National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC) including Adivasi Mahila SashaktikaranYojana (AMSY)	70.00
3	SCA to TSP	1250.00
4	Grants under Article 275 (1)	1367.00
5	Umbrella Scheme for Education	1136.84
6	National Overseas Scholarship	1.00

Ministry of Tribal Affairs through regional consultations and its meetings has advocated and supported growing and consumption of traditional minor millets, green leafy and traditional vegetable in kitchen garden, rearing backyard poultry, and fishery. In addition, the Ministry has advocated regular administering of Iron Folic Acid tablets and Vitamin A supplements to pregnant women right from their cycle. Documentation of tribal crops and food, tribal medicine and practices to improve health and nutrition issues has also been initiated.

This information was given by the Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt Maneka Sanjay Gandhi in reply to an unstarred question in the Rajya Sabha today.

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Health Minister directs officials to gear up for monsoon: Review meeting held on preparedness of States

Shri J P Nadda, Minister for Health and Family Welfare, has given topmost priority to advance preparedness of states affected by dengue, in order to prevent the disease and effectively manage it. He has been personally monitoring the situation and the preparedness of the states. The Minister has directed the officials in the Ministry to gear up to meet the possible incidence of Dengue during monsoon. “We are coordinating with states concerned and are ready to provide all necessary support,” said Shri Nadda. Under his direction, Shri B P Sharma, Secretary (Health and Family Welfare) chaired a high-level meeting to review the dengue situation in four northern states viz. Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and National Capital Territory of Delhi, here yesterday. Dr. (Prof) Jagdish Prasad, DGHS, Shri C K Mishra, Additional Secretary and Mission Director (NHM), and Health Secretaries and representatives from the states participated in the meeting.

Reviewing the preparedness of the states in view of the ensuing transmission season, the states were advised that as no vaccine is available for prevention and as there is no specific drug for treatment of the disease, source reduction activity to eliminate the mosquito vector breeding needs to be the top priority to reduce the risk of transmission.

The states were asked to strengthen and work towards focussed IEC activities in coordination with Swachha Bharat Campaign to maintain a mosquito free environment. The Health Secretary pointed out that community awareness campaign plays a crucial role to create awareness and prevent panic in case of dengue positivity. The states have been advised to launch public awareness campaigns to disseminate information on the DO’s and DON’Ts of Dengue to enable and educate communities for prevention of Dengue.

The Health Secretary also stressed on inter-sectoral coordination for prevention of mosquitogenic condition. The states were advised to give priority to training of doctors based on the recent National Guidelines on Dengue case management. The states were also asked to ensure availability of dengue diagnostic kits (ELISA based NS1 and IgM) in all the Sentinel Surveillance Hospitals. Provision of implementation of legislation for the construction sites and residential areas was identified as one of the thrust areas during the meeting. 

The Health Minister was briefed about the proceedings and the preparedness of the states. He directed the concerned officers to continuously monitor the situation and to keep him apprised. 

modern model NandGhars - Anganwaadi

Smt Maneka Sanjay Gandhi inaugurates the first Public Private Partnership model based anganwadi centre ‘NandGhar’ in Sonipat District of Haryana

4000 such modern model NandGhars to be set up across the country under the new initiative

The Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Smt. Maneka Sanjay Gandhi inaugurated the first of its kind modern and model Anganwadi centre ‘NandGhar’ on PPP model at Hasanpur village in Sonipat district of Haryana today.

The Union Ministry of Women & Child Development will set up 4000 such multifunctional NandGhars across the country to benefit over 4 lakh women and children.

Addressing the gathering after the inauguration, Smt Maneka Sanjay Gandhi said that the 4000 NandGhars proposed to be set up under this partnership, will have all facilities that can contribute to the healthy development of children. Their whole life will be better if they are provided good care and facilities in pre-school level, the Minister said. Smt Maneka Gandhi said that each Anganwadi should be treated as a centre where children can receive some education, can be fed and take part in play activities, she said.

The Minister explained that this place can also be used as a community centre for women of the village to share their feelings and thoughts. The centre will also act as a platform for skill development.

Smt Maneka Sanjay Gandhi also announced that the Central Government is soon going to open ‘One Stop Crisis Centres’ for women who are under any kind of physical, mental or psychological crisis. She said that the first such centre is being opened in Raipur District of Chhattisgarh and the first centre of Haryana will be opened in Karnal district of Haryana.

Addressing the gathering on the occassion, the Women and Child Development Minister, Government of Haryana, Smt. Kavita Jain said that the state Government will provide all support including land and administrative support for development of these centres in the state of Haryana. She said that it will set a commendable example of partnership between the Government and corporate sector for the development of society. Smt Kavita Jain said that Haryana Government is functioning in the direction of achieving the target of ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padao’ scheme of the Government of India and ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padao Cell’ has been established by Haryana Government for this purpose.

These Anganwadis have been named as “NandGhar” by the Prime Minister and a singular design will be followed for these centres at all locations. NandGhar initiative adds to the existing Anganwadi model of the Ministry’s ‘Integrated Women and Child Development Scheme’ and this centre will act as a focal area for immunization, gender sensitization and maternal care.

The integrated Anganwadi model ‘NandGhar’ will provide smart education, mobile vans, Health Awareness and Skill training. The ‘NandGhar’ centres are proposed to be run as a shared space in which 50% of the time will be devoted to children’s education and the remaining half will support women’s skill development.

The NandGhar structure has low lifetime maintenance cost, is spacious with ample light, and is fire, dampness and earthquake proof. NandGhar offers amenities of smart education through interactive graphics, Hygienic toilets, Safe drinking water, a dedicate kitchen and storage space and will run on Solar Panel Power.

In this unique partnership, the Union Ministry of Women & Child Development and Vedanta will share the cost of construction of the buildings, which are prefab structures. The land for the Anganwadis will be provided by the Gram Panchayats and the construction will be undertaken by NBCC.

The Member of Parliament from Sonipat, Shri Ramesh Chandra Kaushik, Shri Anil Agarwal ji, Chairman of Vedanta Group, senior officials of the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development and Government of Haryana were also present on the occasion.

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maggi controversy- PIB

Press Note 

Pursuant to the adverse results received after sampling and testing of M/s Nestle India Private Limited’s “Maggi Instant Noodles with Tastemaker” in U.P., the Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had advised Commissioners of Food Safety in various States to draw samples and get the same tested from authorized laboratories.

Analysis of the reports received, and the record of the case, revealed the following 3 violations in the product:

(i)          Presence of lead in excess of the permissible level of 2.5 ppm

(ii)        Misleading label of “No added MSG- Monosodium Glutamate”

(iii)       Release of “Maggi Oats Masala Noodles with Tastemaker” without risk assessment and grant of product approval.

The Company representatives were given a hearing on 4.6.2015 by the Chairman and CEO of FSSAI to seek their response in the matter.  The Company contended that testing protocols had not been complied with; that the “No added MSG” label was fixed on account of lack of clarity and in accordance with industry practices; and that the Oat Noodles had been launched at a time when the advisory dated 11.5.2013 (on the subject of product approvals) had been stayed by the Court. 

The above response was considered by FSSAI and not found to be satisfactory.  The violations of the law have been held to be established. 

Accordingly, vide Order dated 5.6.2015, FSSAI has directed the Company as follows:

(i)           Withdraw and recall all the 9 approved variants of Maggi Instant Noodle from the market; and stop further production, processing, import, distribution and sale thereof.

(ii)         Comply with the labeling regulations and remove the label of “No added MSG”.

(iii)        Withdraw and recall the food product “Maggi Oats Masala Noodles with Tastemaker” and any other product for which risk assessment has not been undertaken and product approval granted.

(iv)      Take appropriate action to re-ascertain the safety of its products in compliance of the obligation contained in Section 26 of the Food Safety Standards Act, 2006.

***

Addressing Anaemia among Pregnant Women

Under the National Health Mission (NHM), the management of nutritional anemia among pregnant and lactating women is an important intervention. The steps taken to tackle anaemia are given below:

·        Universal screening of pregnant women for anaemia is an integral part of ante-natal care, through the existing network of sub-centers and primary health centres and other health facilities as well as through outreach activities at Village Health & Nutrition Days (VHNDs).

·        Every pregnant woman during ANC is given iron and folic acid (IFA) tablets for six months and six months post-partum. Pregnant women, who are found to be clinically anemic, are given double dose.

·        Health and nutrition education to promote dietary diversification, inclusion of iron folate rich food as well as food items that promote iron absorption.  

·        To tackle the problem of anaemia due to malaria particularly in pregnant women and children, Long Lasting Insecticide Nets (LLINs) and Insecticide Treated Bed Nets (ITBNs) are being distributed in endemic areas.

·        To reduce the prevalence of anemia in adolescent girls, both in and out of school, Government of India has launched a scheme of Weekly Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation (WIFS) all over the country.

·        Mother and Child Protection Card in collaboration with the Ministry of Women and Child Development to monitor service delivery for mothers and children.

·        Non –Pregnant and Non Lactating women are given Weekly Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation

·        Engagement of 8.8 lakhs Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) to generate demand and facilitate accessing of health care services by the community.

·        Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram (JSSK) has been launched on 1st June, 2011, which entitles all pregnant women delivering in public health institutions to absolutely free and no expense delivery including Caesarean section.  The initiative stipulates free drugs, diagnostics, blood and diet, besides free transport from home to institution, between facilities in case of a referral and drop back home. Similar entitlements have been put in place for all sick newborns accessing public health institutions for treatment till one year after birth.

India's malnourished infants Jul 2nd 2015, 13:02 BY THE DATA TEAM

INDIA has been growing steadily richer in recent years, but it still has more malnourished people, especially children, than any other country. A big, nationwide study from 2005 and 2006, the National Family Health Survey (NFHS), found that 42.5% of children under five years old were underweight. The region with the next highest proportion of underweight children is Africa, with an average of 21%. Another measure of malnutrition is stunting, when children are unusually short for their age. Again, India's problems were shown to be unusually bad.

Now comes some good news. In 2013 and 2014 the UN agency for children, Unicef, and India's government conducted a new study called the Rapid Survey on Children (RSOC). The purpose was to gather up-to-date figures to use in the interim before the next big NFHS survey, which is under way. The RSOC report has unfortunately not been published, but The Economist obtained a copy.

It points to some striking national trends. For example the proportion of underweight children has fallen from 42.5% a decade ago, to just under 30% now. There have been similar improvements on stunting, wasting and other measures of malnutrition. The national immunisation rate has risen and the rate of open defecation is down from 55% of households to 45%.

Really interesting, however, is the breakdown of results by state, presented here. By and large social and health indicators across India follow predictable patterns. In states with higher incomes, those nearer the coast and farther south, most health indicators are better. Typical high achievers are Kerala and Tamil Nadu. In landlocked states, poorer ones and in the north, social and health results are usually worse. Notorious backward states include Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. North-eastern states are often outliers, both poor and landlocked but often with high rates of literacy and better health.

Results from the RSOC mostly bear out these trends. Everywhere has seen a reduction in the share of underweight children and in stunting. But it is striking that on occasion higher incomes do not correlate with the biggest health gains. Maharashtra and Gujarat are both states with relatively prosperous people, but Maharashtra's nutrition levels are better than Gujarat's. This is also true for rates of immunisation and of open defecation. It appears that Maharashtra's government has put more emphasis on tackling nutrition problems, for example among its adivasi, or tribal, population.

Two crucial factors are worth looking at. Lower rates of open defecation correlate well with reduced malnutrition. When children live and play in clean environments they are less likely to be infected with parasites that make it hard to absorb nutrients. And states that focus on helping girls and young mothers probably do better at breaking long-term cycles of malnutrition. Where teenage girls have a low body-mass index there seems a greater likelihood mothers will give birth to undernourished children. Proper nutrition for girls and women should be a priority.

Download data for 15 indicators here.

The original RSOC files—for each separate state and India as a whole—are available to download here (note: large file).

Read further on this story from this week's issue here and here.

Original article : http://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2015/07/daily-chart-0?fsrc=scn/fb/wl/dc/st/indiamalnourishedinfants

Success Stories

nutrition eggs and MDM

Union Agriculture Minister Shri Radha Mohan Singh, requested the Chief Ministers of Bihar, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan to encourage free milk to school children. Union Minister write that Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh States have already implemented the availability of free milk products schemes to raise the nutritional level of school children through encouraging cooperatives milks in the Mid- Day Meal schemes. Minister also write that in the review meeting it was found that the State Milk Federation have surplus stocks of skimmed milk powder and in the interest of farmers and the country's milk producers, cooperatives purchase of milk has continued.

            The text of letter written to States Chief Ministers is as followed:

“You may be aware of School Milk Programme running successfully across the developed world which encourages children to consume dairy products and maintain a balanced diet regime. Milk, Yoghurt, cheese, buttermilk and other milk products that are important from the point of view of good nutrition and balanced diet, are provided to school children under the programme.

2.         The Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries in a meeting held on 15^th June 2015, reviewed the situation in respect of procurement and sale of milk in the country. In the meeting, it was observed that there are surplus stock of skimmed milk powder with the State Milk Federation. The higher stocks of milk products with the cooperatives have resulted in reducing the working capital. In the interest of farmers and milk producers’ of the country, the cooperatives have continued procuring milk but they are working under severe constraint of working capital.

3.         Government of Karnataka’s project titled “Ksheerabhagya” scheme during the year 2012-13 aimed at supplying milk to schools thereby ensuring clean and hygienic food to children. The scheme continues to progress and give good results. Even the Government of Madhya Pradesh had recently launched a similar scheme in the State in which milk will be provided to schools and anganwadis.

4.         You may be aware that Milk contributes close to a third of the gross income of rural households and in the case of those without land it contributes, it estimates nearly half of their gross income. Further, 90% of farmers have a herd size of 2 or less and 69% of the dairy farmers are small & marginal. Introducing school milk scheme would help farmers and milk cooperatives owned by farmers a ready and steady market for their produce.

 I would appreciate if your Government launches a similar milk programme in the Mid Day Meal scheme, addressing the issue of child malnutrition in the country by utilizing milk powder from the cooperatives which will help in enhancing nutrition of school children as well as improving their retention.”