Malnutrition in tribal areas to be checked

Chief minister Ashok Chavan has directed his administration to introduce schemes to provide square meals to mothers which will help in reducing malnutrition in the tribal areas.

Chavan was told during a meeting held at Mantralaya on Friday that most of the malnutrition cases are due to insufficient and unbalanced food to mothers in the tribal areas. Chavan told the officials from the departments of public health, women and child welfare, tribal development and civil and food supply, to chalk out special schemes for the tribal areas.

“To provide necessary nutrients to the pregnant women, vegetables and fruits should be made available in the tribal areas. New schemes are needed to introduce encourage a two-crop cycle and community farming in the tribal areas,” Chavan said.

Chavan also has ordered ensure that balanced food, including eggs, milk and meat, are provided to mothers and children in the tribal areas. To encourage government officials to work in the tribal areas, Chavan has announced a group housing scheme for those who do.