Woman and Child Development Minister Usha Devi on Wednesday told the State Assembly that the Government has not received any complaint regarding death of children due to undernourishment and malnutrition during the year 2015-16.
The Minister said this in response to a question of Congress member Bhujabal Majhi.
However, she informed that 38,564 severe malnutrition children in the 6 months-six year age group have been included under the Supplementary Nutrition Programme. While two eggs a week and Chhatua are being provided to children in the 6 months-3 years’ age group, morning tiffin and cooked food are being given to all children in the 3-6 years’ age group for 25 days a month.
While a total of Rs241.19 crore had been spent in 2014-15 under the Supplementary Programme, Rs379.30 crore spent in 2015-16 and Rs 130 crore has been spent by this time during the current year, the Minister informed.
In a related question asked by another Congress MlA Kailash Chandra Kuleshika, the Minister said concerned district Collectors have been directed to give priorities to remote and unreachable villages for opening of the sanctioned 1,081 Anganwadi and 200 Mini Anganwadi centres.
The Collectors have also been asked to provide ICDS services to all children and pregnant woman in hilly and forest-surrounded villages, she said.