National nutrition week observed in Raniganj

Malnutrition is very high in India as 45.9 percent of children under the age of three are malnourished, with a state average of 43.5 percent. Although the infant mortality rate (IMR) has reduced in the last decade from 75 to 47, the contribution of malnutrition to these deaths still remains the same. The ill effect of malnutrition is well known since it is an underlying cause responsible for about one third of all deaths in childhood. Every year the country celebrates National Nutrition Week in the first week of September to promote nutritional practices and spread nutrition awareness among the community.


Essar Foundation, under its Aanchal project on empowering adolescents for better child and maternal outcomes, conducted awareness and sensitization events at Shibpur and Kataberia villages with the support of family and integrated child development scheme department (ICDS) on September 4 and 5, 2013.


The focus of the nutrition week was to carry out an awareness campaign in the community using drama as a medium, preparation of nutritious food with locally available resources, a quiz contest to enhance the information level of target beneficiaries on nutrition. Lalir Kotha, a documentary film was also screened to sensitize people on anemia, its causes and preventive steps.

Participating anganwadi supervisors and workers of nine villages from Pratappur Gram Panchayat and three villages of Bidbehar Gram Panchayat, pregnant and lactating mothers from five villages raised various queries and concerns regarding malnutrition.

Both the events were attended by the Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) of Durgapur-Faridpur and Kanksa blocks as resource persons, Gram Panchayat Pradhan and Deputy Pradhan of Bidbehar and Pratappur Gram Panchayats as chief guests.

At Kataberia Mr Anil Sharma, VP HR, Essar Oil, shared his views on nutrition and health with the women and adolescent girls. About 350 women and adolescent girls participated in both the events. Child in Need Institute (CINI), Kolkata, the technical support partner for the project facilitated the event.