JOIN USThe district administration has identified 324 severely malnourished children in the district, said Deputy Commissioner D Randeep.
He said authorities are regularly monitoring these students and are providing supplements, nutritious food and administering vaccination for various diseases under various government schemes.
He addressed the gathering at the inaugural ceremony of a two-day national conference on ‘Malnutrition: Challenges, Success Stories and Way Forward’, organised by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), JSW Foundation of Ballari, and the state government here on Friday.
He said, “It is a great challenge before the authorities to combat malnutrition. The authorities are working towards ensuring hygiene and are encouraging mothers to breastfeed babies to overcome the problem.”
Study on midday meals
Scientists of CFTRI are conducting a study from January titled ‘food safety and nutritional evaluation of midday meals served in Mysuru district: A Pilot Study’ and have selected about 270 schools of different zones across the district. Samples of rice, sambar, milk and water have been collected for analysis.
In addition, a detailed report on the hygiene and safety aspects of cooking and storage practice have also been recorded. A detailed report would be submitted to the state government with certain recommendations on nutritional and safety aspects for ensuring nutritional security of the children.
CFTRI and Department of Women and Child Development had conducted a study under the 12th Five Year Plan at 12 anganwadis in Nanjangud taluk. As many as 250 children in the anganwadis were part of the survey. A package of seven products, containing the required nutrients to meet deficiencies among pre-school children in the age-group of three to five years, was provided for a period of six months.