Several novel efforts were made last year to ensure the proper nourishment of children in Madhya Pradesh. These efforts benefited the children and pregnant women who did not have access to schemes under the Integrated Child Development Project.
Under the efforts, tiffin scheme for malnourished children to take home third meal and pilot project to supply full meal to pregnant and lactating mothers in 5 districts were implemented. Anganwadi Chalo Abhiyan was undertaken twice last year to ensure that children go to anganwadis and benefit from their service. Under the drive, 3 lakh new children were enrolled in anganwadis.
Woman and Child Development Minister Maya Singh informed that 'Jugnu' scheme was launched for children at Indore, Ujjain, Gwalior and Bhopal to cover children who could not attend anganwadis since they lived in temporary habitats. Remarkable decline in rate of malnutrition has been recorded in the state as a result of Suposhan Abhiyan.
Singh informed that Daycare Centre-cum-Crèche Scheme has been introduced to monitor and rehabilitate malnourished children. As many as 300 Daycare Centres have been set up in 4 districts including Dhar, Singrauli, Sheopur and Shivpuri. Sneh Sarokar Yojana has been launched from Datia to involve society in drive against malnutrition. Under it, enlightened section of society, businessmen and social servants have assumed responsibility to ensure nutrition among malnourished children.
About 70,000 children were adopted under the scheme. A scheme to provide full meal to pregnant and lactating mothers has been launched as pilot project in districts with maximum underweight children including Satna, Barwani, Alirajpur, Dindori and Umaria to ensure nutrition of embryo so that no malnourished child is born. Such women are given freshly cooked lunch, one sweetlime, 2 laddus made through TSR or Halwa daily.
Maya Singh informed that process to build Model Anganwadis was started last year to ensure with children attend anganwadis with interest. For this, agencies constructing buildings of anganwadis was trained and its entire concept was compiled in a booklet so that they can construct anganwadi buildings as per children's needs and interest. During last year, 2350 Aganwadis were developed as Model Centres.
During Anganwadi Chalo Abhiyan, 15,847 anganwadis were shifted to Government buildings. The drive was conducted in two phases from November 1 to 19 and July 15 to 21 to ensure that every child attends anganwadi before joining school. During the period, process was started to extend anganwadi services to 3 lakh new children. Novel scheme 'Tippy Tape' was launched to inculcate habit of hygiene and sanitation among children. In the equipment, a wooden plank is attached beneath a water can.