Deputy CM Diya Kumari on Tuesday launched the pilot distribution of biofortified millet nutri bars for children coming to Anganwadi centres in the age group of 3 to 6 years in Vidyadhar Nagar. He said that the distribution of Millet Nutri Bar would be beneficial for improving the nutritional status of children in the age group of 3 to 6 years and for their stay at Anganwadi Centres. He said that after six months, if the pilot is successful, efforts will be made to implement it at the state level with the help of CSR.
Speaking to the media on the occasion, Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari said that as a novel innovation inspired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s “Shree Anna Yojana,” a pilot distribution of biofortified millet nutri bars has been started in collaboration with CSR in selected Anganwadi Centres of Jaipur and Udaipur districts for children of 3 to 6 years coming to Anganwadi Centres. The said millet bar is made of bio-fortified millet, wheat, groundnut, jaggery and honey and contains adequate calories, protein, calcium, iron and zinc which are extremely important in nutrition.
Diya Kumari said that for this innovation, the department in collaboration with GIZ and PATH, Harvest Plus, has selected Jaipur First, Sanganer Rural and Falasia, a tribal area project of Udaipur district, under the pilot. Under this scheme, millet nutri bars will be distributed to about 10,000 children at 544 Anganwadi centres. Each child will be given a nutri bar weighing 20 grams per day, 5 days a week, for 6 months.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that this initiative would not only improve the nutritional status of the children but would also increase their stay at the Anganwadi centres as well as strengthen the role of the workers. In the future, an important step will be taken towards inclusion of millet (“Shree Anna”) based food products by including such innovations in the ICDS programme of Rajasthan.
Speaking on the occasion, Secretary, WCD, Shri Mahendra Soni said that with an aim to strengthen the nutritional status of children in Rajasthan, continuous efforts are being made to improve the health and nutritional status of the beneficiaries under the ICDS programme of the Department of Women and Child Development.
Vasudev Malawat, Director, Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), Dr. Ankur Muthreja, Director, External Affairs and Health Security, PATH and Ravindra Grover, Chief Operating Officer, Harvest Plus were among the dignitaries present on the occasion.
Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan
Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari planted a sapling under Hariyalo Rajasthan at the Anganwadi Centre located in the premises of Government Higher Secondary School, Sector-8, Vidyadhar.
Nandghar Inspection: Care should be taken for the convenience and safety of children at the Anganwadi centre.
Deputy Chief Minister and Women and Child Development Minister Diya Kumari inspected the Nandghar in Vidyadhar Nagar on Tuesday. He took stock of the arrangements there and gave necessary directions. He said that the children should get better nutrition regularly and they should be given better pre-school education under ECCE. He said that the convenience and safety of children at the Anganwadi centre should also be kept in mind to avoid any untoward incident during the rainy season.