Shashi launches programmes for welfare of pregnant women, malnourished children

Kolkata: In a bid to reduce malnutrition among children, the minister of state for Women and Child Development Shashi Panja launched community based programmes on Friday, to be conducted for the welfare of pregnant women.

Based on different issues related to pregnant women, these events will be conducted on the fourth Friday of every month.

Spreading awareness among pregnant women about breastfeeding and other issues, Supusti Dibas will be conducted every month with their husband and mother in-law as invitee members at Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) centres.

Meanwhile Annaparasan Dibas, ensuring complementary feeding in children between the age group of six and nine months, will be conducted quarterly.

"Supsuti Dibas and Annaparasan Dibas will provide a big platform to the functionaries of the centre and the parents/community, in which activities are organised in a bigger form of advocacy, awareness generation for their involvement as well as for establishing partnership for optimum development of children," said Panja on the sidelines of a programme on the theme of 'Optimal and Exclusive Breastfeeding' held at Aikatan Community Hall in Bagbazar Street.

She informed that 'Pushti' (a blend of ground wheat, groundnut, Bengal gram and sugar) a readymade meal for breakfast, will be distributed free of cost among girls (between the age group of 11 and 14 years) from the ICDS centres.

The malnourished children will be allowed to

carry this ready-to-eat food home.