COVID-19: Hailakandi administration provides nutrition support through MDM, ICDS

April 4: Following closure of schools in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak, the district administration has started distribution of dry ration under the Mid-Day Meal (MDM) scheme to the beneficiaries. The Government of Assam ordered the closure of elementary, secondary schools and higher educational institutions since March 16 to prevent the spread of novel Coronavirus in the state.

Though the administration is focusing on the Coronavirus pandemic preventive measures, it is also looking after the nutrition needs of children and women. The administration has roped in the teachers and president of the school management committees to distribute the ration to the parents and guardians of the children. Additional Deputy Commissioner (Education) cum Additional District Nodal Officer, MDM, RK Dam said dry ration instead of mid-day meal is being provided to parents of the students covering 1,616 schools across the district with the help of teachers of the respective schools. Dam instructed the teachers to ensure that during distribution of ration, social distancing of one-meter is maintained to contain the spread of the disease.

Rice along with cooking cost is given as per entitlement. Cooking cost comprises either ration – rice, vegetables, oil – or entitled cost. That is not all. The Take Home Ration (THR) instead of the hot cooked meals in the normal course is being distributed door-to-door by the Anganwadi workers under the five numbers of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) projects in the district. The THR is being distributed under Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP) of ICDS to children, pregnant women and lactating mothers for 300 days in a year.

Sub-divisional Officer cum District Social Welfare Officer, Jyotirmoy Daimary said, “The district authorities are aware that undernourished children and pregnant women are more likely to catch Coronavirus infection and illness. Amid COVID-19 outbreak, we cannot ignore nutrition needs of children, lactating and nursing mothers, as they are more susceptible to catch the infection. That is why the administration and Social Welfare department are providing the nutritional food through ICDS.” Daimary said the Anganwadi workers are being instructed to maintain social distancing while distributing THR to the beneficiaries.

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court asked the Centre and all states to come out with a uniform policy to ensure that in the efforts to prevent spread of COVID-19, the schemes for providing nutritional food to the children and nursing and lactating mothers were not adversely affected.

The top court registered a Suo Motu case ‘regarding closure of mid-day meal scheme’ after having noted that all the states have directed for closure of their schools and some of the states of Anganwadi centres as well.
“Non-supply of nutritional food to the children as well as lactating and nursing mothers may lead to large-scale mal-nourishment. Particularly, those in rural as well as tribal area are prone to such mal-nourishment. It may affect their immunity system. Such children and lactating and nursing mothers would be more prone to catch the infection,” the bench said.