Ensure Supply Of Quality Food Items To Pregnant, Lactating Women: CM Jagan

VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has said quality must be ensured in the supply of ‘take- home ration’ being provided under the YSR Sampoorna Poshana and YSR Sampoorna Poshana Plus schemes for pregnant and lactating women in Andhra Pradesh.

Chairing a high-level review meeting on ‘women development and child welfare’ with senior officials here on Monday, the Chief Minister felt the need to comply with the standard operating procedures (SOPs) while providing food items to the beneficiaries of these schemes. Officials must ensure quality certification and avoid any lapse in the distribution. They must also keep a close vigil on the implementation of both these schemes, he said.

Under the YSR Sampoorna Poshana scheme, two kg of ragi flour, one kg of flattened rice, 250 gm of jaggery, 250 kg of chikki, 250 gm of dry fruits, three kg of rice, a kg of toor dal, half a kilo of cooking oil, 25 eggs and five litres of milk are provided to the beneficiaries.

Under the YSR Sampoorna Poshana scheme, two kg of ragi flour, a kg of flattened rice, half a kg of jaggery, half kg of chikki, half kg of dry fruits, three kg of rice, a kg of toor dal, half litre cooking oil, 25 eggs and five litres of milk are being given to the targeted people.

The officials informed the CM that they were dedicating specific days like the first and third Fridays in a month as the days of health, sanitation and nutrition.

With regard to ‘family doctor’ programme, the CM felt the need to link it to the nutrition programme  and called for regular monitoring of children’s growth, their immunisation, nutrition and inculcating good habits in them to protect their health.

He asked the officials to refer the children to the health centres for healthcare and laid stress on the presence of anganwadi supervisor.

The officials informed the CM that, based on his earlier instructions, they were arranging weight measuring machines to keep tab on the growth of children.

Jagan Mohan Reddy called for proper attention to the students of pre-primary-1 and 2 and laying of a strong foundation for them in English language with regard to pronunciation and phonetics.

The CM directed the officials to complete works taken up under Nadu-Nedu phase-2 in Anganwadi centres by August 15. They must ensure providing amenities like classrooms, toilets, protected drinking water, furniture etc to these units.

Referring to the implementation of schemes like Kalyanamastu, Shaditofa, Amma Vodi, Vidya Deevena and Vasathi Deevana, the CM said the government is keen on curbing practices like child marriages and hence introduced the norm that both the bride and groom must study upto Class X if they should get governmental benefits.

The officials stated that, as advised by the CM, they were setting up a junior college for women for each mandal in order to help women continue their studies even after completion of Class X.

Jagan Mohan Reddy advised officials to see that there was no shortage of children’s homes, ensure their proper maintenance and provide proper training and teaching to the children.