Free milk for pre-school kids in anganwadis

BANGALORE: Karnataka is set to launch another ambitious scheme to prevent malnutrition and its resultant health problems among pre-school children aged between three and six years.

"The children will be provided with milk in addition to supplementary nutrition at anganwadi centres to help them fight malnutrition and grow healthy,'' chief minister Siddaramaiah said. Animal husbandry officials said the government may need about Rs 500 crore for the scheme and it will possibly be earmarked in the budget to be presented on July 12.

The women and child welfare department will implement the scheme, whereby children enrolled in Integrated Child Development Scheme and who attend anganwadi centres will be provided with 200 ml boiled milk supplied by KMF every two days.

The scheme will also ensure that extra milk available with the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF), promoters of Nandini, is consumed by those in need rather than converting it into milk powder.

The initiative, to be implemented last month, was delayed due to technical reasons.

"But things have been sorted out now and we are ready,'' said women and child welfare minister Umashree.

At present, 50 lakh litres of milk is produced daily in the state, and this may touch 60 lakh litres soon. The new scheme will help utilize the excess 30 lakh litres produced.

But malnutrition among children remains the trigger for the scheme, especially in Raichur district. Government data shows that between April 2009 and August 2011, 2,689 malnourished children died in Raichur alone, and 4,531 children suffered from severe malnutrition.
Malnutrition has been the underlying cause of deaths of children under five years in the state since 2008. Even if it does not lead to death, malnutrition, including micronutrient deficiencies, often leads to permanent damage, including impairment of physical growth and mental development, '' G R Hiremath, a social activist fighting for the cause in Raichur.

TIMES VIEW

The government initiative to give free milk to children under 6 years in anganwadi centres is a wise and welcome move. In one stroke, it plans to get rid of the scourge of malnutrition striking parts of the state and also smartly utilize the excess milk produced by KMF. The government had earlier conceded that turning extra milk to powder form was not viable. Politically too, the move helps the Siddaramaiah government address its social responsibilities. But it must ensure the distribution of milk is smooth, uninterrupted and transparent. For the health indicators of a state reflect its social and economic-well being too.

Source: http://to.ly/meYT