Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (MS)

Bengaluru, Jul 9: 'Mathru Poorna' scheme, which was brought into action by the former Siddaramaiah government, for the benefit of pregnant women and new mothers has received a setback in many districts of the state including Bengaluru rural, Ramanagara, Mandya and Hassan as pregnant women and new mothers are refusing to visit the Anganwady centres for food for the sole reason that the food is being cooked by Dalits and lower caste women.

The former government had brought this scheme in order to provide nutritious food to pregnant women and new mothers so that they can be disease free. The responsibility of bringing the pregnant women and new mothers to the Anganwady centres was given to Asha activists. In the beginning, when this scheme was introduced, there was a very good response. However, gradually there was a decline in numbers.

According to a senior officer of the Women and Child Development department, apart from the cooking of food by the Dalits and lower caste people, certain superstitions like pregnant women should not go out of the house lest evil eyes will be cast on them and they are not supposed to pass in front of men in the village are also contributing to the setback of this scheme.

Activists of 'Asha' are doing the work of creating awareness among the village folk to wipe out these disbeliefs. However, the pregnant women and new mothers, who visit the Anganwady once are not turning for the second time due to the objection put forth by the elder members of their families.

"Most of the time it is difficult for pregnant women and new mothers to cook food. That is why nutritious ready food is available in Anganwady centres. There will be good improvement in the health of child and mother also. People should come out of the disbeliefs and make use of the scheme," says Dr R N Lakshmipati, officer of Child Health and Family Welfare department.