Daijiworld Media Network - Kolkata (SR)

Kolkata, Jul 29: The state government in an event organised on the occasion of ''Supushti Divas'' (Nutrition Day) to promote nutritional awareness among expectant mothers on Friday, made 20 pregnant women pose before a platter of lavish meals for a photo op, and later shooed them away after giving them food parcels. 

The event held at Vidyasagar Vidyapith in the area was held under the banner of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) which held several such programmes on the day across the state, ironically, aimed at alleviating malnutrition among pregnant women and children.  

The locals were outraged by the humiliating incident and an FIR was launched against the organisers. As reported in Telegraph, the husband of one of the heavily pregnant women, Moumita Sandhukhan (25), who was amongst those used as a dummy for this event, lodged a complaint against the organisers. He called the treatment “inhuman” in his complaint to the ICDS project officer in Santipur.

The organisers of the event asked pregnant women to line up and pose, one by one, before the plate containing an entire meal including rice, dal, vegetables, egg curry, and a dessert. However when the women tried to touch the food, they were rebuked and the organisers clarified that the meal was only ‘for demonstration’. Later they were handed out a food packet comprising of only rice and egg and asked to leave.

25-year-old Moumita, who is presently seven-months pregnant told reporters that “Following the officials’ behaviour, I did not even accept the parcel.’ At least six infants who were invited by the ICDS for an ‘Annaprashan’ event at the same venue, were reportedly treated in the same way.

The ICDS is a central programme implemented through state officials to provide food, nutritional services, preschool services, primary healthcare and immunisation to children under six and expectant mothers. Following the complaints, ICDS officials, have ordered an investigation into the accusations. The state minister Shashi Panja has promised to personally look into the event and find out the reason behind the alleged mistreatment.