Scheme to tackle malnutrition launched in Madhya Pradesh

BHOPAL - Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan Tuesday launched the “Sanjha Chulha” (community kitchen) scheme, which he termed a “revolutionary step” towards the challenge of eradicating malnutrition.

The scheme was launched in Parwalia Sadak village in Bhopal district.

Under the scheme, Anganwadi and school children will get freshly cooked food, prepared in same place as for the mid-day meal scheme by self-help groups. The scheme will be monitored in coordination with panchayats (village councils) and the community.

Chouhan said his endeavour is to ensure that all children get education and no one is left out.

“Earlier, these schemes were being conducted separately due to which their monitoring and quality were affected on one hand and on the other, profits were pocketed by contractors. The community kitchen scheme is being jointly implemented by the two departments (women and child welfare and the school education department), so that their benefits can be received by both mothers and children,” he said.

The new system of combined kitchen will not only facilitate proper monitoring and improve quality, but will also provide employment to women’s self-help groups, Chouhan added.