Mangalore: 'Ayush Pushti' biscuits to combat malnutrition among children

Pics: Brijesh Garodi
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (DV)

Mangalore, Nov 6: Health and family welfare minister U T Khadar on Wednesday November 6 said that in a new initiative, the department of Ayush (Ayurveda, Yoga And Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha And Homoepathy) will provide ‘Ayush Pushti’ biscuits for children below five years to tackle malnutrition. The biscuits will be rich in Ayurvedic ingredients.

Addressing a press meet, Khadar said, “Primarily, the biscuits will be distributed in backward taluks where children are suffering from malnutrition. The department has already identified five taluks where the scheme will be launched immediately. First, it will be tried in one taluk and later if it works well, the biscuits will be distributed throughout the state. The biscuits will be helpful in controlling diseases, assist in digestion, and increase  concentration. Already, the process of obtaining biscuits is completed and soon this scheme will be launched.”
 
“Secondly, Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) will provide free mobile phones and SIM cards to 35,000 workers in the state. Earlier, the National Health Mission under the union government used to provide 200 travel incentives to ASHA workers but now it has been stopped, still the state government has decided to provide them. Moreover, the state government has sanctioned a grant to provide incentives wherein if they (ASHA workers) take any one patient to hospital they will get Rs 200 and if the patient is from SC/ST category they will get more incentives,” said Khadar.
 
“Wenlock Hospital has been installed with computerized database software. This will make it easy to maintain and identify the details of patients.  Moreover, the government has planned to set up an integrated medicine system in all taluk primary health centers of the district, where patients can opt for allopathy, homeopathy, or Unani medicines,” he added.
 
On government's decision to hand over Sowjanya rape and murder case to CBI, he said, “It is a bold step from the government and we need to welcome it. The government will support the victim's family in getting justice.”
 
Speaking about the Ullal Masjid controversy wherein two Sunni groups have been clashing over Wakf board's stay order on praying at the mosque on Fridays, the minister said, “First of all, no political leaders should intervene in religious matters. Religious matters will be dealt with by religious leaders alone. Even I personally approached the president of the Wakf committee and asked them to wait for one month so we can discuss and solve it according to Shariat (Islamic law). For me, Qazi of Ullal as well Qazi of Mangalore are like my eyes.”