Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 20: Citizens’ Forum Jammu (CFJ) has urged upon the Governor Satya Pal Malik to order the conduct of a survey to find out the extent of mal-nutrition in School/ Anganwadi children in the State.
In a statement issued here today, the Forum members pointed out that the problem of malnutrition, anemia, deficiency in Vitamin A and iodine, is very common among the school children, specially in rural areas. The Central Govt survey has pointed out recently that 94 % children in the age group of 6-9 years are mildly, moderately or severely underweight. Adolescent girls suffer from anemia due to iron and folic acid deficiency.
RK Chadha, president of the Forum said that Central Govt has emphasized the implementation of Mid Day Meals Scheme in its Common Minimum Programs. It also mentions about the setting up of appropriate mechanism for quality checks. Despite all this, Mid Day Meals means rice and dal or only rice with salt in this state with a budget of over Rs 100 crores.
The Forum president further said that apart from non-compliance with nutritional norms, as set by the Centre and adopted by other states like Punjab, Haryana and UP; egg, banana, milk is compulsory with basic food. The cooking of the Mid Day Meals needs correction of basic ills of preparation next to lavatories, abandoned houses/ rooms, under trees and even close to the drains because maximum schools do not have the kitchens.
The Forum demanded appointment of doctors for variably visit of such schools and check the health of students and provide medicines for their basic health.
The other Forum members signatories to the statement are-S S Wazir (Ex-ADGP), Dr Ravinder Madan, Dr Arun Gupta, R K Handa, S K Gupta, Arun Sharma, Lalit Mahajan, Deepak Handa, Harbans Wahi, Lalit Makin, Anil Sethi, Sunny Dua and others.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel