Over 250 anganwadi children from Nanjangud taluk are likely to get special nutritious foods prepared by the Mysuru-based Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI) from the second week of December.
These foods had been prepared by the premier food research lab to address nutritional deficiencies among the pre-school children.
The products include rice mix, high protein rusk, energy food, nutri chikki with Spirulina, nutri sprinkle, sesame paste and fortified mango bar. The products are comprehensive in nutrition profile with requisite macro and micronutrients for pre-school children.
The CFTRI developed the products to complement the existing Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) feeding solution via anganwadis. According to the CFTRI, pre-school children are particularly vulnerable to malnutrition and its consequences. Paucity of a balanced diet causes impaired physical and cognitive development and reduced overall growth.
Deputy Director of Women and Child Development Radha told The Hindu that the scientists from the CFTRI, who are engaged in this project, had told her that bulk preparation of the foods was in progress.
The pre-school children from select anganwadi centres in Nanjangud and Biligere areas had been identified to avail the foods. Among the kids, over 90 had been identified as malnourished, she said, adding that the distribution would take place for a period of six months. “Based on the success of the effort, we will take over preparation and distribution of the foods,” she added.
She said the government is spending Rs. 9 per day on a malnourished child and Rs. 6 per day on a normal child. Eggs are distributed four days a week and sweet and khara pongal two days a week.
CDPO Geetha Lakshmi said the CFTRI had plans to start the distribution of nutritious foods in the second week of December.
CSIR-CFTRI had organised a two-day training programme for representatives from the Department of Women and Child Development. It collaborated the planning and execution of the nutrition intervention study with the national coordinator for the project and the State officials of Karnataka.
CFTRI and the State government had identified 13 anganwadis at Nanjangud taluk to be part of the project. The initial study has been done with pre-school children suffering from malnutrition at Nanjangud taluk.
The study had encompassed surveys exploring family background details and health status of children using diagnostic tools.
The impact of the programme on the health of the children will be assessed at the end of a six-month trial.
The number of malnourished children last year was 850. It had come down to 416 due to various interventions.
Radha
Deputy Director, Department of Women and Child Development, Mysuru
Rice mix, high protein rusk, energy food, nutri chikki with Spirulina, nutri sprinkle, sesame paste and fortified mango bar to be distributed to 250 kids, including 90 malnourished ones, for a period of six months
Published - November 20, 2015 12:00 am IST
