Rs 12.75 lakh released to tackle malnutrition

1,700 children affected in Chnagar

The state government has released Rs 12.75 lakh for providing medical facilities to more than 1,700 children identified as malnourished at anganwadi centres across the district.

Children with thin bent legs and bloated abdomen, suffering from diseases related to malnourishment, are common at anganwadi centres. The future of these malnourished children are at stake as they are born poor and have become victims of these diseases due to poverty.

The kids are said to be mostly born premature and are below the average recommended weight. The other reasons for such complaints are said to be child marriages, marriages between close relatives, which leads to malnourished babies. Malnutrition has a direct impact on mental and physical development of the children.

There are about 1,331 anganwadi and 50 mini centres under the district women and child welfare department. There are 40,877 children under 0-3 years, 28,313 in the age limit 3-6 years with 1,342 anganwadi workers and 1,191 helpers.

About 1,700 children have been identified as malnourished in the district. Out of this, 350 belong to Scheduled Castes, 150 under Scheduled Tribes, and 1,200 under other communities.

Gundlupet taluk is said to have the most malnourished children with the figures standing at 661. Chamarajanagar has 331, Kollegal has 543 and Yalandur taluk has 165 children.

Centres
The problem which was considered seriously resulted in the opening of a new kendra to cater to these children. The department of women and child welfare has decided to provide nutritious food for women and kids suffering from the problem. The funds released by the government would be utilised to provide necessary medical facilities.

Meanwhile, the government has fixed the amount of food to be distributed to children at anganwadi centres. The list has already been sent to all taluk child welfare offices.