Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar today said his government has started the process to set up a nutrition commission and formulate a state nutrition policy to redress the issue of malnutrition among children.
Stating that action under the State Nutrition Mission would be taken according to the guidelines of UNICEF and WHO, Khattar said that the aim is "healthy child, healthy teenager, healthy mother and healthy Haryana".
He was speaking at an event here organised as part of the 'Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao' programme.
UNICEF has set three parameters to monitor nutrition level. These are age, weight and height. Haryana had the parameters of age and weight. Now the government would incorporate the parameter of height too, the Chief Minister said.
He said it was sad that children are malnourished in Haryana, which is known as the 'land of milk and yogurt'.
"According to the survey in 2013-14 by National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, 27.85 per cent children up to five years of age in Haryana were under weight, 34.1 per cent children were dwarf and weight of 11 per cent children were underweight as compared to their height," an official release said.
Expressing concern over imbalanced sex ratio in the state, the chief minister said the government wished to implement 'Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao' programme not in an official manner, but in an effective way.
"We are seeking support of all sections of society and these be representatives of people, social workers, sociologists, intellectuals, distinguished personalities of the corporate sector," Khattar said.
"We are marching forward in scientific manner. We are also using Information Technology in innovative ways and laying stress on care of the female foetus," he added.
United States Ambassador to India, Richard Verma who was present at the programme, said, "I would like to congratulate CM Mahohar Lal Khattar for initiating today's 'Call to Action' to save and educate the daughters of the state. Haryana's efforts to promote the health, education and development of women and girls are worthy of recognition."
"The US is eager to partner with India and Haryana in support of 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' goals. I am delighted to see the leadership from corporate and industry joining us for today's event and supporting the cause through public-private partnerships," he said.
The Haryana Chief Minister said that the state government is working on a three-pronged strategy to correct the imbalance in sex ratio.
"First, we are strictly implementing the PNDT Act. Secondly, we are ensuring that girls take birth, brought up properly, have access to education and become self-reliant in life. Thirdly, we have started implementation of incentive based schemes to change the mindset of the people, which discriminates between boy and girl," Khattar said.
