BANGALORE: Members of the Forum to End Child Malnutrition have suggested measures to the state government to prevent child malnutrition.
During a meeting on Tuesday, they said the government should supply milk, eggs and vegetarian protein sources such as lentils and grams to every child.
Promise to supply milk and eggs to only severely malnourished children was a limited strategy, as protein inputs are vital in preventing malnourishment among all the children, they added.
They stated that mothers were getting only a bowl of rice and negligible amount of dal per month, which do not supplement their nutrition.
The forum proposed to extend nutrition rehabilitation centre services across many areas.
They suggested that mothers should supply food to anganwadi centres, as this will generate local employment for women and provide palatable meals to children.
Dr Asha Kilaru from JAAK said that child health and nutrition were not just the responsibility of Women and Child Welfare Department, but even Health and Family Welfare Department plays a crucial role.
Mathews Philip, Executive Director, SICHREM, emphasised on the end of privatisation of anganwadi services.
The Forum to End Child Malnutrition plans to set up district level monitoring and mobilisation committees, and strengthen the existing ones, to provide feedback to committee on the groundlevel implementation of the proposed changes in ICDS.
The committee found that out of the 68,55,801 children below the age of six years, only 37,74,267 were enrolled for anganwadis.
Out of total enroled children, 11,29,947 were moderately and 71,605 were severely malnourished.