Chhattisgarh government has given the work of manufacturing ready-to-eat nutritious food to women self-help groups in 6 districts to remove malnutrition and empower women. With this, Anganwadi children, pregnant and lactating mothers will get nutritious food and women will also get employment.
Raipur. Chhattisgarh government has launched an important initiative to eliminate malnutrition and promote women empowerment in the state. Under this initiative, the task of preparing and distributing ready-to-eat (supplemental nutritional food) to Anganwadi centers has been entrusted to women self-help groups. This will provide employment to women and will also provide better nutrition to children and mothers.
Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai’s decision: Women Empowerment and Nutrition Mission
Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai said that the state government has decided to give the responsibility of manufacturing and distribution of nutritional supplements for Anganwadi centers to women self-help groups. This step will provide economic empowerment to women and will give impetus to efforts to reduce malnutrition in the state.
Pilot Project in 6 Districts: Ready-to-Eat Nutrition Diet Scheme
This scheme has been implemented in the first phase as a pilot project in 6 districts – Bastar, Dantewada, Balodabazar, Korba, Raigarh and Surajpur. 42 women self-help groups of these districts have been entrusted with the task of manufacturing and distributing ready-to-eat food items. Raigarh has become the first district in the state where women’s groups have started ready-to-eat production.
District wise women self-help groups got work
According to the Women and Child Development Department, the groups in different districts have been given responsibilities as follows:
- Korba: 10 women self-help groups
- Raigarh: 10 women self-help groups
- Surajpur: 7 women self-help groups
- Balodabazar-Bhathapara: 7 women self-help groups
- Bastar: 6 women self-help groups
- Dantewada: 2 women self-help groups
All these groups are manufacturing and distributing nutritional supplements to Anganwadi centres.
Government’s focus on women empowerment and nutritional security
Women and Child Development Minister Lakshmi Rajwade said that this scheme will provide employment and income opportunities to women. This will make them economically strong and their role in the society will also be strengthened. He said that this initiative is an important step for better health and nutritional security of children, pregnant women and lactating mothers. The government aims to reduce the problem of malnutrition in the state by providing nutritious food.