Malnutrition continues to be among children in Kerala: CAG

: A total of 56 to 66 per cent of children in Kerala continue to be out of the ambit of 'Supplementary Nutrition Programme' implemented under the Integrated Child Development Services.
Malnutrition among children, below the age of six stood at 27-39 per cent in the state, according to the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report on general and social sector for the year 2012, placed in the state Assembly today.
The report stated that 110 out of 1,180 children who died during the year, were severely malnourished.
"The figures were based on data collected from various Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) across the state. Test check of records in Idukki, Malappuram, Palakkad and Thiruvananthapuram districts indicated that 110 out of 1,180 children died during 2011-12 period were severely malnourished," R N Ghosh, Principal Accountant General (General and Social sector audit) told reporters here today.

Quoting the report, Ghosh said the Centre's guidelines stipulating periodical weighing of child beneficiaries under the 'supplementary nutrition programme' to assess their nutritional status, was not adhered to during 2007-12.
Criticising the state social welfare department for the deficiencies in implementing the programme, the report said the department did not have any long term perspective plan.
There was a shortage of 8,619 Anganwadi Centres in the state, the report said adding that 14 additional Anganwadi Centres sanctioned in 2005 by the Union government, were yet to be operationalised.