Even though there are many flagship schemes for mothers and children by both the State and the Central Governments, in most parts of Odisha, due to lack of awareness and education, the Dalits and tribals still suffer from malnourishment and are unable to avail the benefits.
The National Confederation of Dalit Organisations (NACDOR) released Odisha Nutrition Report Card recently concerning the facts of nutritional intake in 12 districts of the State.
On the occasion of Culmination of National Nutrition Week and Odisha Poshan Samman Adhikar Yatra organized by NACDOR, GAIN and Save the Children here on Monday, MP Baishnab Charan Parida said very few political representatives know the real picture of nutrition level of Dalits, tribals and other socially excluded classes in the remote areas of the State; so they never raise this issue in the Assembly. He urged that the grim fact obtained during a nine-day survey on malnourishment of mothers and children of the 12 districts should reach to the Chief Minister and he needs to be aware of the fact because a lot of such schemes are being focused on these target groups.
Sweta Guria, National Coordinator of NACDOR who led and travelled with the team to all 12 districts including Rayagada, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Balangir, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Sonepur, Angul, Dhenkanal, Khurdha, Nuapada and Cuttack, found the situation of nutritional intake among Dalits, tribals and other socially excluded communities as very pathetic.
The Government officials should reach out to their hamlets to understand the real situation. Mostly due to lack of awareness on nutrition, poor literacy rate, poor implementation of Government flagship schemes, early pregnancy, lack of gap or space among children and high percentage of anemia among women and adolescent, a huge number of malnutrition cases are identified in almost all the districts of the State. She said a State level cell needs to make on-the-spot visit and monitor all the schemes run by the Government for the mother and children in Dalit and tribal pockets.
National Coordinator (health and Nutrition) of Save the Children, Pradeep K Mishra sharing his observation said that every individual should understand he has every right to have proper nutrition. Due to lack of awareness on proper nutrition we are unable to provide nutritional food to both mother and child. He lamented even though this nutrition week is being observed for the last 32 years, the goal is not achieved. It is not the duty of one particular department rather all the departments, social organizations, and other service providers should coordinate to reach out to the target group, he opined.
On the last day of National Nutrition Week which culminated here in Bhubaneswar, representatives of Odisha Poshan Samman Adhikar Yatra, who were a part of the street play and awareness group, gathered on the occasion. Among others, Soumyakant Mishra of Save the Children, Sanjeev State programme coordinator of NACDOR and Sukanta Chandra Behera of NACDOR were present.