Naveen & Maneka discuss efforts to fight malnutrition in State

New Delhi: Union Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi called upon Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik at the Odisha Bhavan here to talk on malnutrition scenario in the State.

After the meeting Patnaik told media, “Malnutrition among pre-school children, lactating and pregnant women in the State were talked about. Besides, in an effort to encourage the Anganwadi workers and helpers, we also discussed increase in their honorary pay.”

The Minister for Women and Child Development said, “The Centre is considering steps on how it can help the State and fund institutions to help malnourished women and children.”

The Odisha government has already extended its community management of malnutrition programme to all 30 districts of the State.

The State is focussing on infant mortality rate and maternal mortality ratio reduction strategies through a multipronged converged model where nutrition finds a prominent mention, said an official.

Around Rs 808.98 crore was earmarked for supplementary nutrition programme in the annual programme implementation plan of ICDS for 2017-18, the official added.