After several reports of mishaps related to the quality of food in Anganwadi centres in India, the UP government is planning to include items such as like dalia, laddoo, halwa and khichdi in the menu. This menu is meant for children, pregnant women and lactating mothers from an economically unstable background.
“The state government received information that children, pregnant women and lactating mothers living in slums were not evincing much interest in consuming panjiri, despite its nutritional value,” UP Minister of State for Child Development and Nutrition Anupama Jaiswal said.
“Recently, a team of officials of the Department of Child Development and Nutrition visited Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand, where they studied the food menu. In some states, dalia and halwa are served, while in others, laddoo and khichdi was given,” Jaiswal added.
Noting government’s initiatives towards women and child care, she said. “The government wants to save children, pregnant women and lactating mothers from malnutrition. The officials who had visited different states have submitted their reports which are being studied. We are hopeful that soon we will come up with a new menu,” Jaiswal said.
“This will ensure that the Anganwadi workers do not face any problems and also curtail theft of food items,” she said.
