Maximum malnourished women in Bihar, C’garh, Jharkhand, MP and Orissa

Citing figures from National Family Health Survey (NFHS) -3, 2005-06, the Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Maneka Sanjay Gandhi gave this information in Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

“The Government has accorded high priority to the issue of malnutrition and is implementing several schemes/programmes of different Ministries/Departments through State Governments/UT Administrations. 

The schemes/programmes include the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)  Scheme, National Health Mission, Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls RGSEAG)-‘Sabla’, Indira Gandhi <g data-gr-id="33">Matritva</g> Sahyog <g data-gr-id="34">Yojna</g> (IGMSY) as <g data-gr-id="32">direct</g> targeted interventions, besides, indirect Multi-sectoral interventions include National Food Security Mission, Total Sanitation Campaign, National Rural Drinking Water Programme among others. All these schemes have potential to address one or other aspect related to Nutrition including nutrition of women,” said the minister.

Giving details regarding the schemes, Gandhi <g data-gr-id="28">said</g> “the objective of ICDS is <g data-gr-id="27">holistic</g> development of children 0-6 yrs, pregnant women and lactating mothers. These objectives are sought to be achieved through a package of six services comprising supplementary nutrition, immunization, health check-up, referral services, pre-school non-formal education and nutrition and health education.”

The ‘Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (RGSEAG)–‘Sabla’, a Centrally-sponsored scheme introduced in the year 2010-11 on a pilot basis. “At present it is being implemented in 205 districts from all the States/UTs. <g data-gr-id="24">Sabla</g> aims at <g data-gr-id="29">all-round</g> development of adolescent girls of 11-18 years by making them ‘self reliant’. The scheme has two major components: Nutrition and Non Nutrition Component,” she explained.

Meanwhile the Indira Gandhi MatritvaSahyogYojana (IGMSY), Conditional Maternity Benefit (CMB) is a centrally sponsored scheme for pregnant and lactating (P & L) women to improve their health & nutrition status to enabling better environment by providing cash incentives to them. “The scheme was introduced in <g data-gr-id="37">October,</g> 2010 on <g data-gr-id="36">pilot</g> basis and now operational in 53 districts across the country. The scheme envisages providing cash directly to the beneficiaries through their Bank /Post Office Accounts.