Haryana to set up Nutrition Commission

Gurgaon: Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Tuesday said the state government has started the process to set up a "State Nutrition Commission" and formulate a "State Nutrition Policy" to address malnutrition among children.

The chief minister was speaking at an event organised for the 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao" program here.

He said the aim of the State Nutrition Mission would be "healthy child, healthy teenager, healthy mother and healthy Haryana".

Stressing that action would be taken under the mission according to guidelines of the Unicef and WHO, Khattar said it was sad that children were malnourished in Haryana, which is known as the land of milk and yogurt.

According to a survey, 40 per cent children of Haryana were underweight, 46 per cent children suffered from dwarfism and 19 per cent were underweight.

According to another survey conducted in 2013-14 by the National Institute of Nutrition in Hyderabad, 27.85 per cent children up to five years of age in Haryana were underweight, 34.1 per cent children suffered from dwarfism and 11 per cent children were underweight.

On the 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' programme, he said: "We are seeking support of all sections of society — representatives of people, social workers, sociologists, intellectuals, distinguished personalities of the corporate sector.

"We are marching forward in a scientific manner. We are laying stress on care of the female fetus," he said.

(IANS)