CM Mr Chouhan's call to fight malnutrition

Muslim Saleem

Bhopal, December 16, 2011

Mr Shivraj Singh Chouhan is a Chief Minister who does not relent on important issues. Even when he has embarked on the ambitious Beti Bachao Abhiyan, he has not put other important issues on the backburner. Recently, Mr Chouhan once again asked the state machinery to intensify fight against malnutrition, reports SMS New & Features.

Chief Minister Mr Shivraj Singh Chouhan took a meeting of officers at Satna late on Monday night. He stressed to identify the places where condition of children is serious due to malnutrition. On burnt-up transformers, he said that the work of replacing them should be undertaken as per decided norms.

The Chief Minister reviewed all the government programmes afresh. Mr Chouhan appealed to wealthy people of society to adopt at least one Anganwadi each since it will help improve the situation of malnutrition to a great extent. He said that health is among seven top priorities of the state government. Mr Chouhan said that Madhya Pradesh government wants to share other states' experiences in the fight against malnutrition. Mr Chouhan said that a community-based mission is being launched in the state for eradication of malnutrition.

Now, on the initiative of Chief Minister Mr Shivraj Singh Chouhan, a new nutritious diet is being introduced in Anganwadi centres of the state. Under it, three types of murmure (puffed rice) will be given as ready-to-eat breakfast to children of 3 to 6 years at Anganwadi centres. The murmure, which will be salty, sweet and of mixed taste, will be provided to the children six days a week.

The murmure to be provided at Anganwadi centres will be different from those available in the market since they will be tasty and laced with proteins and calories, which will help attract children towards Anganwadi centres. Earlier on July 29, this arrangements was sanctioned for one year, but the scheme has been extended since murmure were found to be rich in protein and calories. After feedback from guardians of children and Anganwadi workers, it has been decided to supply murmure in the breakfast. The dish will be served as breakfast on the children soon after opening of Anganwadi centres in the morning. Due to this, there will be no delay in supplying breakfast. Murmure will be made of a mixture of wheat flour, soya flour, sugar, maize flour, rice flour, oil and spices.

The salty murmure will be made of 63 percent wheat flour, 5 percent each spices, soya flour and maize flour, 12 percent rice flour and 10 percent oil. Every 50 grammes of murmure will contain a minimum of 5 grammes of proteins and 200 calories. The per tonne price of salty murmure will be Rs. 35 thousand 810. The per beneficiary cost will be 79 paise. The sweet murmure will be made of 46 percent wheat flour, 7 percent each of soya flour and maize flour, 20 percent sugar and 10 percent each of oil and rice flour. It will also contain 5 grammes of proteins and 200 calories.

Tthe children will also be provided murmure with mixed taste, which will be made of 46 percent of wheat flour, 10 percent each of soya flour, rice flour and sugar, 12 percent of oil and 2 per cent of spices. Like sweet and salty murmure, it will also contain a minimum of 5 grammes of proteins and 200 calories.