The much-awaited Integrated Nutrition Mission will soon be launched in the State. Chief Minister Raghubar Das made the announcement here on Tuesday stating to recruit 10,000 ‘Poshan Sakhis’ under the mission within a month.
Das said the initiative is part of the State Government’s aim to make Jharkhand, a malnutrition-free State. “The Government’s Budget also focuses on this aspect. We have asked Social Welfare and Health departments to work together for developing the mission,” maintained the CM, during a workshop organised by Vikas Bharti and Save the Children. Presently, Jharkhand ranks second after Madhya Pradesh in the list of malnutrition States across the nation.
According to CM, the ‘Poshan Sakhis’ will be recruited on contractual basis. “The job-profile of these ‘Sakhis’ would be restricted to the 14 scheduled areas of the State. They will issue yellow, white or other coloured card to the residents based on the door-to-door survey for sickle cell anaemia. A similar programme would be carried among the school children,” pointed Das.
The CM also expressed desire to motivate the Anganwadi Sevikas and Sahiyaas by providing them Hansdani Insurance Scheme wherein the Government would bear the 50 per cent amount. Also, he urged the private nursing home doctors to operate atleast few baby delivery cases free of cost in villages.
The Government is mulling to avail cycles to some Anganwadi Sevikas. Das said the Karuna Project meant to eradicate malnutrition under the Nutrition Coalition for Sustainable Security headed by eminent scientist MS Swaminathan will be extended to other districts as well. It was successfully implemented in villages of Gumla Sadar block in Gumla and Pindra block in Varanasi as pilot project in association with Vikas Bharti, Save the Children and the State government.
Meanwhile, Social Welfare Principal Secretary Mridula Sinha said that besides 10,000 Poshan Sakhis, more will be absorbed in the coming three years. “last month, a 15-day campaign on awareness of malnutrition was carried out through various programmes in the anganwadis. We will keep a track on the status of the awareness in August.
Moreover, the regular distribution of nutrient supplements to the kids by Anganwadi Sevikas will also be checked to see whether it is benefitting the beneficiaries or not,” said Sinha. She felt it is important to ensure timely opening and closing of Anganwadis for the purpose.