ICDS officials asked to improve health of underweight children in Kurnool

The Kurnool district Collector asked the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) officials to take necessary action to address the problem of underweight children in anganwadi schools. The ICDS officials were also directed to improve the children’s health condition in next two to three months.

At a review meeting held recently with the Women and Child Welfare Department, Collector P. Ranjit Basha said that there were 4,118 children in the age group of 3 to 6 years, who are underweight. He directed the ICDS officials to send anganwadi workers to every household and get the details of underweight children and the reasons for the same. He wanted the anganwadi workers to verify whether the children were given ‘Balamrutham’ or not.

Mr. Ranjit Basha asked the ICDS Project Director Nirmala to give a report on the number of children who were found to be underweight last month, and those whose weight had increased in a month’s time.

A Women and Child Welfare Department official of Kurnool district, however, said that the number of underweight children might be less than 4,118. “There were some wrong entries (in the app) by some anganwadi workers due to network issues and other reasons. We are rectifying them and will present a report soon,’’ the official added.

ICDS Project Director Nirmala said that they would provide an additional egg, and if necessary, tablets to the underweight children at the anganwadi centres. “We will try to bring the children to normal weight gradually. It takes some time to improve the health condition of the children,’’ she said.