In a step towards ensuring nutrition and hygienic quality of the Take Home Rations (THR) being supplied through the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) for pregnant mothers and severely malnourished children, the State Government has initiated steps for institutionalising the quality testing mechanism. A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary JK Mohapatra.
Mohapatra asked the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) to prepare a work plan for setting up such testing facilities in the Kirshi Vigyan Kendras (KVK) operating at the district levels.
Since Women Self Help Groups (WSHGs) are preparing these THRs as per the ingredient specifications prescribed by W&CD Department in most of the places, the meeting decided that the nutrition quality, ingredient components and fungus or bacteria load of these products will be tested in these laboratories.
Presently, each district has a KVK. It has been decided to start the facility in 13 old KVKs in undivided districts in the first phase.
The Chief Secretary asked OUAT scientists to work out details of the requirement of equipments, materials, training and minimal infrastructure necessary for the purpose within two weeks.
Agriculture Secretary Rajesh Verma too was advised to look into the process of formulation of proposal while W&CD Secretary Arti Ahuja was asked to work out a programme for training and sensitising the WSHGs involved in preparation of Chhatua and THR in the Nutrition and Home Science Colleges of OUAT.