Anti-malnutrition Programme Launched

In Jharkhand, Jeevan Asha an ambitious anti-malnutrition programme was launched, say sources.

The anti-malnutrition programme will cover malnourished children below five years of age in all the 32,000 villages of the state.

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"Jeevan Asha is a unique initiative to address malnutrition in the state. Children's health and nutrition is the first priority for any progressive state. Let us take a pledge to ensure no child in Jharkhand is a victim of malnutrition," said Governor Syed Ahmad while unveiling the programme's logo.

The United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) says that one in every three malnourished children in the world lives in India.

According to the National Family Health Survey (2005-06) in Jharkhand, about 54.6 percent children under three years are under-weight and about 12 percent are acutely malnourished.

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"Jeevan Asha is a multi-sectoral convergence programme of the departments of health and family welfare, social welfare, women and child development and panchayati raj. The UNICEF will provide it technical support," said Mridula Sinha, principal secretary, department of social welfare, women and child development.

Source-IANS

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