Pregnant women reluctant to eat nutritious food at Anganwadis

Pregnant women reluctant to eat nutritious food at Anganwadis
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The nutritious food supply scheme meant for the pregnant women in the district, which was started with great fanfare by the Central and State governments to eradicate malnutrition has been diluted to a great extent and is not reaching the intended beneficiaries in the towns and villages.

Khammam: The nutritious food supply scheme meant for the pregnant women in the district, which was started with great fanfare by the Central and State governments to eradicate malnutrition has been diluted to a great extent and is not reaching the intended beneficiaries in the towns and villages.

With several irregularities coming to the fore, the State government passed an order asking the pregnant women to eat the nutrition food at the Anganwadi centres.

This new circular discouraged many pregnant women from coming to the Anganwadi centres. They were reluctant to come as it was found to be too troublesome. Those who come complained that the food lacked taste and the ration rice lacked quality and taste.

Earlier, rice, red gram and eggs were supplied in the anganwadi centres, which in turn, used to distribute them in the villages. Even the pregnant women living in the Agency areas were benefitted a lot by this scheme.

The food items were distributed based on the number of anganwadi centres and the number of pregnant women present. The women used to come and collect the items, take them home to cook and eat according to their taste.

However, with the decision of the government to feed them at the anganwadi centres has come as bolt from the blue to the pregnant women who were finding it difficult to eat at the centres. It was made clear to them that they would not be allowed to take the essential items home.

As a result, not even 20 % of the children were coming to the anganwadi centres and they no longer get the required nutritious diet.

Speaking to the media, the pregnant women demanded that the old method of supplying the nutritious food should be continued as eating at the centres was very difficult. They said that the new method was useful only to those who live in the remote parts of the Agency areas.

The pregnant women in the town were not at all showing interest in visiting the anganwadi centres to eat. They also alleged that the officials at the anganwadi centres were showing false records to the government.

Even though 20 % of the pregnant women came to the anganwadi centres, the officials were showing 100 % attendance in the records, they alleged.

By: K Narasimha Rao

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