Himachal govt rolls out Shishu Sankalp Yojna with Rs 207 crore outlay to combat malnutrition

Shimla: To improve maternal and child health, the Himachal Pradesh govt has approved the rollout of the Indira Gandhi Matri Shishu Sankalp Yojna (IGMSSY) with a financial outlay of Rs 207.11 crore.A total of 2.99 lakh beneficiaries across the state are expected to benefit from the scheme. The initiative aims to address malnutrition and enhance nutritional outcomes among children below 6 years, pregnant women, and lactating mothers.
The programme focuses on delivering enhanced supplementary nutrition rich in calories, protein, and essential micronutrients. Special emphasis will be placed on the crucial first 1,000 days of life to break the cycle of intergenerational malnutrition. By integrating nutrition, healthcare, and early childhood interventions, the scheme seeks to lower child mortality and morbidity rates.High-risk groups, including severely acute malnourished (SAM) and moderately acute malnourished (MAM) children, as well as low birth weight infants, will be identified early and monitored continuously. Strengthened referral systems and follow-up care will ensure timely medical and nutritional support.Frontline workers will receive capacity-building training to manage common health concerns such as anaemia, diarrhoea, and pneumonia. The scheme also provides scientifically formulated fortified food premixes, along with milk and eggs, in line with revised Govt of India nutrition standards.Nutrition rehabilitation centres will be linked with intensified home-based newborn and young child care visits, while ASHA and anganwadi workers will receive incentives for additional outreach. Monitoring will be strengthened through digital tracking systems and co-ordinated reviews at state and district levels. Chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu reaffirmed the state govt's commitment to eliminating malnutrition and building a healthier society. MSID:: 128711614 413 |