(a) whether the Government has taken note of children living in
very backward and poor areas in the country surviving on kernels
collected by them from animal dung;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has conducted any survey in this regard
particularly in the backward and poor areas of the country; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and the corrective measures adopted
by the Government for the welfare of such children?
MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI KRISHNA TIRATH)
(a) & (b): An incident about children hand picking food grains from
cow dung and feeding themselves in Shivpuri District of Madhya Pradesh was
reported in a telecast by India TV on 10.6.2012.
Upon a report sought by the Ministry, the State Government informed that in
some villages, people eat the seeds of “Ghont†picked from under the trees
out of a cultural food practice. The fruit is edible and has no adverse
health effects. However, as reported by the State Government, who had
conducted an enquiry, they do not eat them in the manner shown in the telecast
and contrary to what has been reported, children were not forced to eat the
seeds on account of acute shortage of food.
(c): A Survey undertaken by the State Government of Madhya Pradesh through
the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) in 2010-2011 revealed that 51.9% of
children were underweight. The percentage of underweight children in the
Shivpuri district was reported as 55% which was found to be lower than 19
other districts of the State.
(d): The Government has accorded high priority to the issue of malnutrition
in the country and is implementing several schemes/ programmes of different
Ministries/ Departments through State Governments/ UT Administrations. The
Schemes/ Programmes include the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS),
National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), Mid-Day Meal Scheme, Rajiv Gandhi
Schemes for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (RGSEAG) namely SABLA, Indira
Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojna (IGMSY) as direct targeted interventions.
Besides, indirect Multi-sectoral interventions include Targeted Public
Distribution System (TPDS), National Horticulture Mission, National Food
Security Mission, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee
Scheme (MGNREGS), Total Sanitation Campaign, National Rural Drinking Water
Programme etc. All these have potential to address one or other aspect of
Nutrition.
Besides, the State Government has also informed that they are
committed to reduce malnutrition among children and making every possible
effort in this direction.