Chandigarh, August 1– Haryana Chief Minister, Mr. Manohar Lal will launch ‘Mahila Avm Kishori Samman’ Yojna’ and ‘Mukhya Mantri Doodh Uphaar Yojna’ on August 5, 2020 through video conferencing from Chandigarh. All the Deputy Commissioners in the State will launch the schemes at District- Level. The sanitary napkins and fortified flavoured skimmed milk powder will be distributed by the anganwadi workers from door to door to the beneficiaries on 5th August 2020 at the village level.

Giving information in this regard, an official spokesman said that the State Government while realizing and underlining the need for knowledge and management of Menstrual Hygiene among women and adolescent girls, particularly of BPL families, has decided to provide hygienic sanitary napkins to the womenfolk in the age group 10-45 years, of this section of society, through the network of Anganwadis across the State.

As per available data, there are 11,24,871 BPL families in the state. By assuming that each such family might have two adolescent girl or women below the age of 45 to whom sanitary napkins will be provided. The expected number of womenfolk of BPL families in the age group of 10-45 years would thus be approximately 22.50 lakh and each of them will be provided with a packet of sanitary napkins, comprising six pieces per month for a year free of cost. He said that the State Government has sanctioned an amount of Rs. 39.80 crore for this ambitious scheme namely ‘Mahila Avm Kishori Samman Yojna’ for the welfare and healthy life for the women.

The spokesman said that in a bid to further improve the health and nutritional status of children and mothers, state government has decided to initiate a scheme namely ‘Mukhya Mantri Doodh Uphaar Yojna’ under which 200 ml of fortified skimmed milk in six flavours such as rose, ellaichi, chocolate, vanilla, butter scotch and plain will be distributed for six days in a week to 9.03 lakh children (1-6 years) and 2.95 lakh pregnant and lactating mothers, who are registered as beneficiaries in Aanganwadi centres (AWCs) across the state.

He said that fortified milk will be distributed for at least 300 days in a year. This skimmed milk powder is fortified with Vitamin-A and D-3 as per the specifications of Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). Milk is a complete food in itself and is a rich source of protein, calorie, calcium, magnesium, B-12 and numerous other micronutrients. Fortification with Vitamin A and D3, it would supplement the need and requirement of these vitamins in the human body.

He said that the State Government has also decided to provide fortified Sweetened Flavoured Skimmed Milk Powder under ICDS which would be instrumental in tackling malnutrition. Further, it will improve the attendance of children in the Aanganwadis. Approximately 7200 MT fortified skimmed powder will be supplied by Haryana Dairy Development Cooperative Federation (HDDCF) and Vita at village level. These organizations are already implementing the scheme of fortified skimmed milk powder for Elementary Schools in Haryana. Training for ‘how to prepare milk from skimmed powder’ has already been imparted by Vita/HDDCF to the officers of the department at district level through video clip.

He said that the training has been provided by trained officers/officials of the department to each Aanganwadi worker (AWW)/ Helper at village level. AWWs/Helpers thus trained will distribute the milk prepared from fortified skimmed milk powder to each beneficiary in 25962 AWCs across the state. The State Government will spend approximately Rs. 216 crore on this ambitious scheme, to improve the health and nutritional status of the target group.