Malnutrition rate in Chhattisgarh down by 17% in one decade

Chhattisgarh has registered significant progress in fight against child malnourishment as the average malnutrition rate has recorded 17 per cent decline in the last one decade, an official said today.
"With consistent efforts of the state government and public participation, there has been significant decrease in malnutrition rate," the official from Women and Child Development Department said.
According to the data collected during 'vazan tyohar' (weight festival) organised by the department, malnutrition rate in Chhattisgarh has declined to 30 per cent from 47.1 per cent registered in the National Family Health Survey 2005-06 (weight-based), he said.
This reflects a "huge decline" of 17 per cent in the last one decade in the state which has large pockets of tribal population and is affected by Naxalism, the official said.

Malnutrition is a condition that occurs due to unhealthy eating habits, lack of nutrition in diet and other reasons. To cure this government has launched several schemes.
To ensure good health of a child right from foetal stage, pregnant and lactating women are provided nutritious diet every week from Aanganwadis (care centres for kids). Women are also advised on their diet and nutritional requirement of their children, the official said.

'Vazan tyohar' is organised every year to diagnose malnutrition level in children, during which weight of all children in the state is recorded, he said.
The department has also been conducting community-based 'Nava Jatan Yojana' since 2012. Under it, over 50,000 children had been cured of malnutrition so far, he said.

For children with serious condition of malnutrition, nutrition rehab centres have been established in 62 places, including district headquarters, he said.
A 12-day 'sneh shivir' (affection camp) is organised regularly in 17 districts which have high number of kids with poor level of diet. At these camps, nearly 7,000 children have been cured of malnutrition, the official said.
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Meanwhile, Savara denied having made any controversial remarks about the malnutrition deaths.
"How will I say such a thing," the minister told reporters here today.
NCP Maharashtra unit president Sunil Tatkare said when Savara visited a tribal hamlet in Khoch village in the worst-hit Mokhada sub-district of Palghat yesterday, angry locals confronted the minister.

"Some infuriated tribals asked Savara that 600 children have died in the region this year and wanted to know what has he done on this issue. Savara replied: "So what? The government is doing its work," Tatkare said.