The number of children identified of suffering from severe acute malnutrition (SAM) being benefitted under the special nutrition programme (SNP) in the State reduced from 63,187 in 2015-16 to 19,218 in 2019-20.
Addressing the media persons on here on Monday, State Women and Child Development and Social Security Minister Louis Marandi said that the number shows that the number of SAM children has reduced in the State.
Informing about the works done by department in the last four and a half years, the minister said, “Under the SNP, children between six months to six years and pregnant and lactating mothers are provided special benefits like take home ration and hot cooked meal at the 38,432 Anganwadi Centres across the State. A total of 34,82,110 women and children were benefitted under the scheme in the year 2019-20.”
A major step taken by the State government during its tenure was increasing the honorarium of Anganwadi Sevikas and Sahayikas. “The honorarium of Anganwadi Sevikas was increased in October 2018, from Rs 4,400 per month to Rs 5900 while that of Sahayikas was increased from Rs 2200 to Rs 2950,” the Minister said.
Talking about the Mukhyamantri Sukanya Yojna started in January 2019 to help curb child marriage and empower the girls of the State, Marandi said that a total of 1,01,94 beneficiaries were given an amount of Rs 3119.57 lakh in the financial year 2018-19 while 2,90,169 girls have already been benefited in the FY 2019-20.
The Minister also informed about the various steps taken under the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS), a scheme for children in need of care and protection or children in conflict with law.
ICPS directed, DK Saxena who was also present at the conference informed that a total of 90 children home are currently functional in the State in which 3023 children in need of care and protection stay. Of these, 2 are being run by the State Government, 22 are aided by the State but is run by NGOs, 48 are run independently by NGOs but registered with the State, 13 are special adoption agencies and five other are open shelter homes.
“We also have 10 observation homes for children in conflict with law and one special home,” Saxena said.
Marandi informed that one stop centre for women in distress is functional in all the districts in temporary spaces but permanent buildings for these one stop centres will be constructed by the end of FY 2019-20 in each district.
“The centre has allotted funds of Rs 48 lakh per building for one stop centres and half of the amount for construction in first phase has already been disbursed to all the deputy commissioners,” informed department secretary Amitabh Kaushal.
Informing about the work strategy for the next four months, Marandi said that the plan is to cover at least 2,90,169 beneficiaries under Mukhyamantri Sukanya Yojna for this FY, digitization of Mukhymantri Ladli Lakshmi Yojana by September this year, reaching out to 16,666 beneficiaries under Mukhyamnatri Kanyadan Yojana among others.