Mumbai, June 18
In a significant move, the take-home rations (THR) provided to children in Anganwadis, pregnant women, lactating mothers, and adolescent girls in aspirational districts across the state will now prioritize taste alongside nutritional value. Highly innovative and savory recipes have now been incorporated for these beneficiaries, announced Aditi Tatkare, Minister for Women and Child Development.
During a special review meeting of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) held at the Mantralaya, the Minister personally tasted and inspected the quality of the nutritional food. Currently, as per Central Government norms, these take-home rations are distributed in a pre-mix (ready-to-cook) format. However, keeping in mind the feedback from beneficiaries, recommendations from regional officers, and suggestions from nutritionists, vital modifications have been made to the diet plan.
The composition of the existing ‘Energy Dense Moong Dal Khichdi Pre-mix’ has been upgraded, and a separate spice packet will now be provided independently to preserve the quality and enhance the taste. Furthermore, the highly popular ‘Multi-Mix Cereals and Proteins’ recipe will continue as before, while two new flavorful items ‘Veg Pulao’ and ‘Multigrain Puffs’ have been added to the take-home menu to suit the preferences of the beneficiaries.
All the newly introduced and modified recipes will strictly contain the required calories, proteins, and essential micronutrients in the proportions mandated by the Central Government.
Dr. Anup Kumar Yadav, Secretary of the Women and Child Development Department, stated that a comprehensive state-wide survey was conducted before implementing these changes. Additionally, opinions from medical officers and various specialized institutions were thoroughly analyzed to finalize these new recipes. The government has been consistently implementing diverse measures to curb malnutrition in the state, resulting in a notable decline over the past three years. Minister Aditi Tatkare expressed confidence that the newly introduced delicious options will increase acceptability among beneficiaries, giving a significant boost to the state’s anti-malnutrition campaign.
