Nutritional needs of moms, kids: HC seeks report on govt schemes

Cuttack: The Orissa high court on Wednesday directed the state government to give a detailed status report on the implementation of the schemes that had been rolled out in the state after March to ensure the nutritional needs of pregnant women, lactating mothers and children.
The court issued the direction as the state government had failed to give details regarding beneficiaries of the schemes for the second time in a counter affidavit to a PIL.
Social activist Prafulla Samantara had filed the PIL seeking special intervention by way of food security measures in the 12 districts with high prevalence of stunting, child wasting and underweight children due to malnutrition. The court was hearing the matter along with Samantara’s rejoinder to the state government’s second counter affidavit.
Taking note of the submissions of Samantara’s counsel Ishwar Mohanty, the division bench of Justice Sanju Panda and Justice K R Mohapatra posted the matter to September 15 for hearing along with the detailed status report on implementation of the schemes after March this year.
The rejoinder pointed out that the second counter affidavit had virtually listed out several schemes which have been purportedly rolled out for ensuring the nutritional needs of women and children in the state.
“The counter affidavit is bereft of any data and specifically, data pertaining to the implementation of the schemes during the pandemic and the ensuing lockdown period i.e. post March 2020. For that the effectiveness of these schemes cannot be ascertained,” the rejoinder stated.
“Besides, as per the counter affidavit, there are no special schemes which have been implemented in the 12 worst-affected districts which have high prevalence of hunger and starvation in the state. Thus, it can be clearly inferred that the state has failed to provide adequate and nutritious food to the vulnerable groups in these districts,” it added.
Rashmi Ranjan Nayak, joint secretary of women and child development and Mission Shakti had filed the second counter affidavit.
EoM