Collector distributes Nutri Kits to Malnourished Kids

Erode district collector Krishnan Unni inaugurated  nutrition kits distribution scheme to undernourished kids scheme and also nutrition awareness rally of students on behalf of  Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) on Thursday. ICDS district project officer I Poongothai said  under the Poshan Abhiyan, the undernourished, under weight and stunted growth kids of below 6 years were focused.

Under the scheme, nutrition awareness program will be held from September 1 to 30. Nutrition awareness fairs, rallies and programmes will be held throughout this month to create awareness among pregnant women and children on the availability of low-cost locally available food items that are rich in nutrients. The CM also launched a scheme at Nilgiris a few months back to distribute nutrition kits to undernourished kids. A follow-up study  conducted and it was found that 5000 children in Erode district are malnourished. 

Today, 20 such children were given nutrition kits through Junior Chamber Charity. Its value is Rs.200. With the help of charitable organizations, an effort is being made to provide such kits across the district. When the government nutrition kits arrive, it will also be provided. Mothers can provide such protein and iron rich food items (dates, groundnut cake, amla, gingelly urundai, ghee) in the kits to the children. There are 2080 Integrated Child Development Centers in Erode district in which primary education is taught to kids below 6 years.

Mothers can bring their children and get their weight checked every month to ascertain malnourishment.When children above three years of age study here, their weight is checked at the center.Thus underweight children are given nutritional flour.Pregnant women are also given nutritional flour every month.An exhibition  will be held in two colleges on making nutritious snacks by using minor millets. An awareness meeting on nutrition for young anemic women is held every month in the centres.  Health department gives vitamin tablets to them in schools. She appealed to the people to use the schemes effectively.