Implementation issues mar nutrition mission in Noida, Greater Noida
The mission is to implemented by village pradhans, but panchayats have been abolished in Noida and Greater Noida
The implementation of State Nutrition Mission in Gautam Budh Nagar has hit a technical glitch due to the abolition of village panchayats in Noida and Greater Noida, as the mission’s schemes are to be implemented by village pradhans.
The Hausla Poshan Yojana was launched last year for providing food to pregnant women and children. Village pradhans had to ensure that food was prepared at anganwadi centres under this scheme.
However, in Gautam Budh Nagar, even midday meals for school students are being prepared by non-governmental organisations.
Chief development officer Makhan Lal Gupta said, “As midday meals are provided through NGOs, we have no kitchen in the district to cook food under Hausla Poshan Yojana scheme. I had sent a proposal to get the food cooked through NGOs that supply midday meal to schools but the directorate did not approve my proposal.”
During the launch of the scheme, the budget for three months was sanctioned for Gautam Budh Nagar. For one month, the integrated child development (ICD) and health department officials got food prepared by anganwadi workers. After that, the officials refused to continue the process on the grounds that it was not their duty.
They had moved the court, which referred them to the district magistrate. The issue is now pending at the office of the district magistrate.
“For each district and state, separate schemes have to be prepared. It is not a guarantee that schemes that are successful in Chattisgarh or another place will be a success in other states. Every state has different requirements and issues,” said Gupta.
“For Gautam Budh Nagar, I had requested that the quota of supplementary food be decreased, on the basis of our requirement but no action was taken by the directorate. The supply should be as per the demand of the district. However, the quantity has been regulated after the change in guard in the state,” Gupta said.
As per data provided by the child development officer, in Noida, there are 1,046 malnourished children; 380 under the red category (acute malnourishment) and 666 (partial malnourishment) under the yellow category. There are 10,278 children in the age group of 0-5 years and 2,336 pregnant and lactating women.
“In Noida, a majority of anganwadi centres are in slum areas. Causes for malnourishment in slum children includes lack of cleanliness in slums, parents having more children and thus, being unable to pay attention to each child. Moreover, slum parents put their children to work instead of sending them to school,” said Vishal Yadav, child development project officer, Noida.