Almost 50 mukhias from gram panchayat across the State pledged to root out malnutrition in their panchayats on Friday. Representatives from the following districts – Ranchi, Dhanbad, Khunti, latehar, Ramgarh, Palamu, Gumla, Jamtara, East Singhbhum, Dumka and Bokaro attended the meeting organised by Unicef along with State Institute of Rural Development (SIRD). These Mukhias discussed 12 interventions that would help to wipe it out.
Rinku Devi, Mukhia of Harina gram panchayat, Dhanbad who organized the first special gram sabha in Jharkhand said, “Special gram sabha has prepared a plan of action to wipe out malnutrition, which is the main cause for diseases and death of children. We have taken a pledge to boycott child marriage in our panchayat as it is directly linked to malnutrition.”
Tara Devi, Mukhia of Madhukarpur gram panchayat, Bokaro said, “In my panchayat we will promote practices like breast feeding, hand washing with soap, consumption of iron tablets, full immunization of children etc. to make it Kuposhan mukt. We have also pledged to boycott child marriage in our panchayat. We have a plan to distribute marriage registration certificates to ensure girls are not married at an early age. Kishori teams have been created in my panchayat who are regularly counseled on health and nutrition issues. A kishori helpline is also planned to be put in place.”
Kiran Pahan, Mukhia of Tatipurbi gram panchayat said, “An orientation session for us was organised by the UNICEF team emphasised on impact of malnutrition and which interventions can help fight against malnutrition. Our goal is a malnutrition free village, panchayat, Jharkhand and India.”
Job Zachariah, Chief UNICEF Jharkhand said, “Malnutrition is killer number one, as it kills about 20,000 children every year in the State. Besides the State loses about 5 per cent of its State Domestic Product (SDP) annually, which is equivalent to `6,000 crores, because of malnutrition.” He said, “A people’s movement is needed to eliminate under nutrition among children. For this, the support of panchayati raj members is critical i.e. 270 days in the womb and 730 days of the first two years.”
Deepika Sharma, UNICEF Nutrition Specialist said, “There are many myths and misconceptions about nutrition. Many people equate under nutrition with poverty. Although adequate food intake is important, the role of correct breast feeding practices, care and health check up of pregnant women, reducing anaemia among women by taking iron tablets, etc are also equally critical to reduce under nutrition among children and anaemia among women. The first 1000 days in the life of a child are critical i.e. 270 days in the womb and 730 days of the first two years of a child’s life.”
State has advised all 4,400 gram panchayats to organise special gram sabhas,this month, with support of UNICEF.