Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh government, under Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, has introduced a revised Take-Home Ration (THR) system to provide supplementary nutrition to children, pregnant women and lactating mothers.
Under the new arrangement, Take-Home Ration prepared by local Self-Help Groups (SHGs) is being distributed through Anganwadi centres across the state. The distribution began in the first week of August.
The system is aimed at strengthening local-level availability of supplementary nutrition while increasing the participation of SHGs in preparing and supplying THR.
Nutrition Services for Children and Mothers
Under the state’s supplementary nutrition programme, eligible beneficiaries receive nutrition services for a minimum of 300 days a year.
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The current arrangements include:
- Children aged 3–6 years: Breakfast and hot cooked meals are provided daily at Anganwadi centres.
- Children aged 6 months–3 years: Hot cooked meals are provided on Tuesdays, while THR is provided on the remaining days.
- Pregnant and lactating women: Hot cooked meals are provided on Tuesdays, with THR distributed on the remaining days.
The new system provides locally prepared THR through SHGs at Anganwadi centres.
Additional Nutrition for Children with Severe Malnutrition
Locally prepared THR is also provided as additional supplementary nutrition to certain children identified with severe nutritional conditions.
This includes:
- 6–60-month-old children classified as Severely Acutely Malnourished (SAM)
- 6–72-month-old children classified as Severely Underweight (SUW)
Regular Monitoring Through Anganwadi Centres
The state is also monitoring children’s nutritional status through regular measurements at Anganwadi centres.
Children’s weight and height/length are recorded on the Poshan Tracker.
Children identified with nutritional concerns are provided health examinations, nutrition counselling and necessary care. Coordination with the Health Department and Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres is undertaken when referral is required.
- Monthly Screening Includes:
- Physical measurements of children from birth to six years
- Health screening
- Identification of SAM, MAM and SUW children
- Registration under the Mukhyamantri Bal Arogya Samvardhan Programme
- Follow-up through field-level workers
- Nutrition counselling for families
Field workers also conduct home visits to follow up on children and provide families with nutrition-related guidance.
681 New Anganwadi Centres in Tribal Areas
Special attention is being given to nutrition and health services in Madhya Pradesh’s tribal areas.
Under the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Nyaya Maha Abhiyan, 681 new Anganwadi centres have started operating with support from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India.
The centres are serving communities including the Sahariya, Baiga and Bharia tribal groups.
The state is focusing on:
- Supplementary nutrition services
- Growth and nutrition monitoring
- Regular health screening
- Health referrals
- Follow-up services
- Coordination with the Health Department
SHGs Take Greater Role in Nutrition Supply
The revised THR system has increased the role of local Self-Help Groups in preparing and distributing supplementary nutrition.
The Madhya Pradesh Women and Child Development Department began distributing locally prepared THR through SHGs across all Anganwadi centres from the first week of August.
The department said the arrangement is part of efforts to make nutrition services more local, accessible and sustained for children and mothers across the state.
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