From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Jan 12: Close on the heels of the concern expressed by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh over malnutrition in the country, which he termed as ''a national shame,” Karnataka’s Women and Child Development Minister C C Patil on Thursday said child marriages and consanguineous marriages (among blood relations or of same lineage) were the major cause for child malnutrition in the State.
Patil, who had recently landed in controversy over his reported statement that women wearing provocative dresses were the major cause for rape and other sexual assaults against them and subsequently denied having made such a statement, said the percentage of malnutrition was very high in Hyderabad-Karnataka region on account of early and consanguineous marriages.
Lack of education and awareness about health among parents led to early marriages and malnutrition among kids aged below 12 years, he said pointing out that 61,000 children below five years in the State were underweight.
The incidence of child deaths was very high in Devadurga in Raichur district. It was not due to malnutrition but on account of dreaded diseases, which has been confirmed by medical reports, he contended.
In fact, juvenile diabetics strikes early for children in Gulbarga, Bidar, Bijapur, Bagalkote, Raichur districts, the Minister said.
The Minister was responding to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s statement that malnutrition in the country was ''a national shame”.
The Hunger and Malnutrition Report, quoted by the Prime Minister following a survey of 73,000 households across nine states, revealed that 42 per cent of children below 5 years age were underweight.
Patil claimed that the Government and the State’s Women and Child Development Department cannot be held responsible for malnutrition in the State, particularly in Hyderabad-Karnataka region.
''Social factors were mainly responsible for stunted growth of children,” he said.
Stating that he would write to the Centre seeking higher allocation of funds for providing nutritious food for kids at anganwadi centres, the Minister said new food menu at anganwadi centres would be introduced from January 17 from Gadag.
The Minister urged the Centre to increase allocations for mid-day meals being given to school children in the State.