Mathru Purna Bhojan scheme, one of the most ambitious schemes of Karnataka, is contemplating bringing changes to the scheme by transferring money directly to the bank account of pregnant and lactating mothers as, many were not able to avail the prepared food due to long distance or conservative approach.
While in a meeting of deputy commissioners and chief executive officers, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy reviewed the progress of the scheme, realised that many pregnant women were not coming to Anganwadi centres as they were situated away from their houses and they needed to walk a long distance to have food and return home. Moreover, conservative families were not ready to send the women to Anganwadi centres and insisted on having it at home. As a result, the food, specially prepared for them, was going waste.
It was then, that some officials suggested that money be transferred directly to bank accounts of these women to enable them to get food prepared at home.
In order to meet 40 to 45 per cent of the daily calorie, protein and calcium requirement of pregnant and lactating mothers, Karnataka former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had launched this programme last October.
These women in rural areas used to get one nutritional meal daily for 25 days in a month. The food consisted of rice, dal with vegetable/sambar, a boiled egg and 200 ml of milk. Those who did not want egg, were given two varieties of sprouts. Nearly, 12 lakh women benefited from this programme. The food is served through Anganwadis and is provided for 15 months, from the start of pregnancy up to six months after delivery.
