110 children die due to malnutrition in 4 dists of Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 19 : As many as 110 children out of 1,180 died due to malnutrition in four districts of Kerala during 2011-12, according to Comptroller and Auditor General of India, here today. Releasing an Audit Report on General and Social Sector, Principal Accountant General R N Ghosh said test check of records in Idukki, Malappuram, Palakkad and Thiruvananthapuram districts indicated that the death was due to severe malnutrition. The percentage of malnourished children below the age of six years in the state ranged between 27 and 39.
Under the Supplementary Nutrition Programme, GOI guidelines stipulating periodical weighment of child beneficiaries to asses nutritional status was not adhered to.
Take Home Ration (TMR) valued at Rs 257.38 crore purchased from Kudumbasree did not possess the mandatory BIS certification. It was also noticed that an amount of Rs 22.34 crore was overcharged by the supplier. The objective of the Nutrition Programme was not achieved as 56 to 66 per cent of the identified beneficiaries were not covered under the scheme.
The child population, not immunised against polio and DPT, in Palakkad and Malappuram districts were respectively 36 and 31. There were a shortage of 8,619 Anganwadi Centres (21 per cent) in the State. Social Welfare Department was not having any long term perspective plan in reducing deficiencies, creation of new AWCs, resulting in lack of delivery of services to beneficiaries in various components in ICDS.