Special food, nutrition securities demanded

Members of the Odisha Shramajeebee Manch (OSM) on Sunday staged a massive dharna at the lower PMG here demanding implementation of a strong ‘Special Food and Nutritional Security Act’ in the State.The Manch working in 10 districts have been organising programmes, demonstrations, advocacy with the State Government since 2012.

Manch member Anjan Pradhan said the Centre has introduced the National Food Security Act with 5 kg of food grain to each individual which is neither sufficient to a human being nor any nutrition value in this food. “The infant mortality rate (IMR) and maternal mortality rate (MMR) in the backward districts like Koraput, Malkangiri and Kandhamal are in an alarming stage due to lack of availability of adequate nutritional food,” he added.

The dharna would continue for three days to highlight the issues of food and nutrition and to pressurise the State Government to introduce a strong and independent State Food Security Act. later, the Manch would hold an all-political party consultation at the Red Cross Bhavan here on August 12.Among others, Arun Prasad Dihudi, Panchanan Pradhan and Radha Kant Das of the Manch coordinated the dharna.