Una admn ropes in CSIR to combat malnutrition

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Una, July 21

To combat malnutrition, the Una district administration will launch an initiative to provide highly nutritious packaged food at Anganwari centres for children and expecting and lactating mothers. The administration has roped in the CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT), Palampur, which has developed packaged food products that have high nutritional content, for the initiative.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Raghav Sharma said the IHBT had come up with products such as spirulina bar, multi-grain energy bar, multi-grain high energy powder and fruit bar. Spirulina, which is an algae, is used to develop a super-food that has high content of essential minerals and vitamins.

The DC said the products developed by IHBT were rich in proteins, iron, potassium, zinc and calcium and if these were provided at Anganwari centres, they would help combat malnutrition among children and women. The packaged food products will be provided along with the traditional food.

He said: “Initially, the district administration will enter into a year’s agreement with CSIR-IHBT to procure these food items. The agreement can be subsequently extended on the basis of the result.”

The institute was preparing a detailed project report and the data regarding the number of children and women in the district was being shared with them, he added. The district Women and Child Welfare Department has been providing food items like chickpea, biscuits, wheat porridge and powdered milk to the children at Anganwari centers and the same items are being provided to expecting and lactating mothers.