Mathru Poorna: Newways to make scheme popular

The poor response to the Mathru Poorna Scheme in the district has compelled the district Women and Child Development Department to take up several initiatives to reach the facilities to the beneficiaries.

Gracy Gonsalves, who is the deputy director of the Department, told DH that, as against the targeted 14,415 beneficiaries, the Department has been able to reach only 6,475 beneficiaries, which is an achievement of 44.91%. The officer said that of the 6,475 beneficiaries of the scheme, there are 1,399 in Brahmavar, 2,563 in Kundapur, 917 in Karkala and 1,596 in Udupi.

She said that pregnant women in the region find the anganwadi centres too far for their convenience. “Various pilot projects have been taken up in many anganwadi centres of the district. Arrangements are now being made to use autorickshaws to supply cooked food to the beneficiaries in Heeliyana and Muddumane in Brahmava and Mullibaru and Hukladaka in Kundapur,” said the officer.

Another measure that the Department has taken is to replace white rice provided to pregnant women with parboiled rice. “The parboiled rice is purchased from local suppliers and given to the beneficiaries. The anganwadi centres at Hanumanthanagara, Heerebettu, Polipu, Hejmadi, Mattu and Matadanagdi being used on an experimental basis through the office of the Udupi Child Development Project Officer (CDPO),” said Gonsalves.

Speaking further, the deputy director said that the Department has entered into an understanding with the Manipal Group. “The Mathru Poorna canteen is set up for pregnant women working at MAHE and KMC, Manipal. The food items are supplied through the anganwadi centre at Adarshanagar. The authorities at MAHE, however, have preferred to use their own canteens to provide food to their pregnant employees. The food materials that are to reach the beneficiaries, therefore, are being supplied to the MAHE canteens so the pregnant women can avail of them,” she explained.

Besides such activities, the Department has targeted pregnant women with body mass index (BMI) below 8% and HB level lower than 9%. The special focus is on pregnant women belonging to SC/ST.

“The project is taken up at three anganwadi centres, at Melgangolli, Heradi and Hosangadi in Kundapur taluk. Beneficiaries belonging to SC/ST with the prescribed deficiencies are offered eggs, milk and sprouted cereals as part of the protein intake, iron and nutrient content to be added to the food,” said Gonsalves.

The deputy director said that if the initiatives taken in the district on a pilot basis prove to be effective, it will be extended to all the anganwadi centres in the district.