Mysuru: Central Food Research and Training Institute (CFTRI) which had developed products with advanced nutrition value which are not only easy to use, but also delicious to combat malnutrition among children are yielding good results. Earlier, children used to fall sick frequently and they were not having proper resistance power, but now both have improved.
It was a first-of-its-kind program to address malnutrition among children on state request. Four months back, as a part of a pilot project, the institute began distributing seven nutritious foods to 13 Anganawadi centres (Hegdalli, Ramapura and Chamalapurada Hundi villages) in Nanjangud Taluk. This program was for about 100 undernourished children and an equal number of healthy children. The department of women and child development had recently found that the district has about 329 severely malnourished children and over 100 of them were in about 13 anganawadi centre in Najangud Taluk. CFTRI developed seven advanced nutritious products; rice mix, high protein rusk, energy food, nutria chikki with spirulina, nutria sprinkle, sesame paste and fortified mango bar containing macro and micro nutrients which were given to the children.

 Geetha Lakshmi, CDPO, Nanjangud Taluk who is looking after the pilot project program said, “After having these seven different nutritious foods with our regular food including different types of sprouts and recently introduced Ksheera Bhagya, there is change in children’s health condition. Most of the children especially malnourished ones, gained weight and their resistance power have improved. Those children who used to fall sick regularly have improved their health as well. Especially, the nutritious food by CFTRI and government’s Ksheera Bhagya played an important role in improving the health condition of these children. Before starting the program, anganawadi workers and parents had also been educated about the project.  A year back across the district there were 710 malnourished children including 270 malnourished children at Nanjangud Taluk alone, but now across the district there are just 310 malnourished children while in Nanjangud Taluk it has come down to just 99 children. Apart from this due to nutritious food provided by CFTRI, the dropout rates too has come down. There is more than 50 percent increase in attendance. Each day one among seven different nutritious food is given to children”.

“After six months, the performance of the malnourished children will be reviewed. The impact of the program on the health of the children will be assessed. If it is found successful, which is already seen among children, the same will be given to other children, especially malnourished children across the district,” added Radha, Deputy Director, Women and Child Welfare Department.

The six month pilot project which began in February will conclude in August.