Maha CM constitutes task force for implementing tribal schemes

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has constituted a task force for convergence and implementation of various tribal welfare schemes including the 'Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Amrut Ahar Yojana'.

Informing about the development, Tribal Affairs Minister Vishnu Savara said the task force will be headed by Public Health Minister Deepak Sawant.

'Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Amrut Ahar Yojna', meant for carrying/lactating tribal women, is aimed at arresting severe malnutrition among tribal kids. The scheme, launched last year, provides one full hot cooked nutritious food to pregnant/lactating women in the tribal areas.

Savara said that government has agreed to supply essential foodgrains through Public Distribution Scheme (PDS) to bring down the input costs needed to prepare nutritious food for pregnant women and lactating mothers.
 

Meanwhile, according to sources, recent screening of 1.75 lakh tribal children in Maharashtra has identified 1,317 tribal children as Severe Acute Malnourished (SAM) and 4,715 kids as Moderate Acute Malnourished (MAM).

Incidentally, an 11-year-old girl studying at a government-run ashram school in tribal-dominated Vikramgadh taluka of the neighbouring Palghar district died following an illness last night.

The incident triggered angry reactions against Tribal Development Department with former MLA Vivek Pandit accusing the department of failing to take care of students of the ashram schools.

Meanwhile, Savara said a delegation of 'Kisan Sabha' has demanded that input cost for preparing a one-time nutritious meal under the 'Amrut Ahar' scheme be raised from Rs 25 to Rs 50.

The minister said, "Food and Civil Supplies department has agreed to supply the foodgrains and essential items under PDS to bring down the input costs.

"The department will also provide the ashram schools with cooks, LPG cylinders and stoves which will further reduce the input costs."

On the demand raised by Anganwadi sevikas (women employees) for increasing their current honorarium of Rs 5,000, the minister said the government has asked the concerned Women and Child Development department to do the needful.