More than 170 social activists and NGOs have written to Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi opposing the plan to provide calorie-dense nutrient packets to anganwadi beneficiaries instead of the ready-to-eat food ration. They alleged that the former would benefit private contractors.
The letter highlights that the ICDS programme aims to provide children with diverse and nutritious food and therefore giving them nutrient packets would deprive them of the other.
The letter is in response to an article in The Hindu on April 12 on differences between Ms. Gandhi and her ministry officials on the issue of nutrient packets.
The Hindu reported that while WCD ministry officials are in favour of sourcing food items such as dalia and khichdi from self help groups, Ms Gandhi wants energy dense and factory-made nutrient packets as take home ration for all pregnant women and lactating mothers as well as children between the age of six months and three years under the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS).
“We are opposed to these repeated attempts to serve commercial interests in the supply of nutrition in ICDS. The Supreme Court orders related to banning private contractors must be strictly adhered to. Adequate allocations must be made to ensure diverse and nutritious food, including eggs, are provided to children in Anganwadi centres (in the form of hot cooked meals or take home rations depending on local conditions) in a decentralised manner. Local groups must be provided the training and support required to deliver nutritious and hygienic food,” according to letter from the Right to Food Campaign dated April 18.
The letter highlights that the ICDS programme aims to provide children with diverse and nutritious food and therefore giving them nutrient packets would deprive them of the other.
The letter adds that sourcing food from the self-help groups as laid down in the ICDS rules has the added advantage of providing employment opportunities to local women as well giving a boost to agriculture.
Amidst the debate over nutrient packets and food ration, the National Nutrition Council held its first meeting on Wednesday to provide policy directions to address nutritional challenges in the country.
According to sources, top officials present at the meet opposed nutrient packets for take home ration.
A statement from NITI Aayog said that Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan stressed that mothers should be involved through self help groups for distribution of take home ration in anganwadi centres.
In the meeting it was decided that 235 distriacts would be covered under the second phase of Nutrition Mission or Poshan Abhiyan apart from the 315 districts already covered under the first phase.
The mission was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in March in Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan. The aim of the programme is to reduce stunting, under-nutrition, anemia and low birth weight among children.
