
Over 90% expectant mothers in Jharkhand unaware of health, nutrition
More than 90% expectant mothers in rural areas are unaware of health and nutrition issues, the Jharkhand Economic Survey 2015-16 has shown. The state has one of the country’s worst maternal mortality rates.
The survey, released in February, said just 8.6% new mothers knew about nourishment during pregnancy, breastfeeding practices and nutrition in general for children.
Jharkhand social welfare officials said the figures were worrying as undernourished and underweight pregnant mothers risked mortality during delivery and had higher chances of delivering still babies or babies with a reduced life expectancy, death before five years of age.
In Jharkhand, for every 100,000 live births 208 mothers die during delivery, compared to the national rate of 178, while the under-five mortality rate among children is at a high 51 per thousand live births, according to the state health department.
“It indicates that anganbadis (village playschools that also sensitise lactating and pregnant mothers on maternal and child health) from where rural mothers source their information are not functioning properly,” said Balram, Jharkhand’s adviser to the Supreme Court-appointed commissioners for right to food.
The National Family Health Survey-3 shows 47.8% of women in Jharkhand are underweight when they begin pregnancy and a survey in 2014 by the Jharkhand Social Welfare Department (JSWD) found that more than 55% women in pregnancy had a body mass index of less than 18.5, meaning a five-foot tall woman weighed less than 40 kg.
A senior health official said on condition of anonymity that the main source of calories is from the daily platter. “However, due to a lack of awareness and poverty, pregnant women just have rice-salt, rice-potatoes or on a lucky day, rice-dal and some vegetables. The result is more than 40% pregnant women are unhealthy and anaemic,” an official said.
The JSWD-Integrated Child Development Survey 2014 showed mothers received 1,200-1,800 calories a day against the World Health Organization standard of 3,200 calories a day and the national average of 2,099 calories in rural areas.
JSWD principal secretary Vinay Kumar Choubey said a state-wide programme had been undertaken to strengthen anganbadis.
“The Jharkhand Nutrition Mission will deal with the issue. The mission has a set of objectives, the issue being one of them, and plans to eradicate under-nourishment at all levels in the next 10 years,” he said.

10th century Buddha Vihar discovered in Jharkhand’s Hazaribag
- As per the evidence found in Hazaribagh, it appeared that the Buddhist structures were built during the Pala period, said an archaeologist with the ASI.

Jharkhand petroleum dealers body demands reduction of VAT on diesel

Tribal people are not Hindus, says Soren; BJP launches attack

Jharkhand to reopen colleges, coaching centres, cinema halls from March 1
- Classes for students studying in class 8 and above are also set to resume in schools.

Dacoits gun down passenger in bus robbery in Jharkhand
- The robbery occurred between 3.30 am and 4 am while the bus was on the way to Biharsharif, Bihar from Kolkata. Dacoits, reportedly half a dozen in numbers, had boarded the bus at Kolkata posing as passengers

2 CRPF jawans injured in gun-battle with Maoists in Jharkhand

Number of Jharkhand residents missing in Chamoli district rises to 21
- Ten people, who are stranded, want to return to Jharkhand.

At least 15 Jharkhand labourers feared missing following Chamoli disaster
- While nine labourers belonged to Jharkhand's Bethat village, six hailed from Ramgarh district.

Domestic help kills self after assaulting CRPF commandant’s kin in Ranchi
- The CRPF commandant told police that the domestic maid appeared to be mentally unstable for the past few days and had turned aggressive all of a sudden.

Former Jharkhand minister Haji Ansari’s son inducted in Hemant Soren cabinet
- Hemant Soren decided to induct Haji Ansari’s son, who is not yet a member of the Jharkhand legislative assembly, as the 10th member of his cabinet.

No new Covid-19 fatality in Jharkhand, tally rises to 118,897

Former Jharkhand minister Haji Ansari’s son to be inducted in Hemant cabinet
- By-election for Madhupur assembly seat is likely to be held next month and Hafizul was considered a front runner for the seat.

Govt should ensure our pension, decent wages, says coal mine worker Sambhu Ram
- He works as a coal loader in an opencast mine in Jharia; as a daily wager, he is dependent on the work he gets every day.

Jharkhand High Court adjourns hearing on Lalu Prasad Yadav's bail plea to Feb 12
- The former Bihar chief minister has been serving jail term since December 23, 2017, after his conviction in three fodder scam cases.
