Jharkhand State demands funds for tackling malnutrition

RANCHI: Jharkhand’s Women and Child Development minister Joba Manjhi on Saturday requested the Centre to release pending funds and sanction more Anganwadi centres to strengthen its fight against malnutrition. She was speaking at the zonal meet of aspirational districts, organised by the Ministry of Women and Child Development here.
Manjhi said around 40% children are malnourished. “Our government is fighting against it. In this regard, Chief Minister Hemant Soren has decided to provide eggs six days a week to Anganwadi centres. However, lack of funds is posing to be a major challenge in the mission against malnutrition,” she said. A sum of Rs 254 crore is approved for Anganwadi schemes in Jharkhand.
“Of the total amount, the state is supposed to get Rs 177 crore from the Centre and we demand this share,” Manjhi said.