Anganwadi centres oppose Matru Poorna, stage protest

Anganwadi workers and assistants staged a protest at Nehru Maidan in Mangaluru on Wednesday against the introduction of “Matru Poorna” scheme in Dakshina Kannada district.

The scheme aimed at providing nutritious food to pregnant women to fight against malnutrition and prevent maternal and infant mortality.

Taluk Sahitya Parishat president Vijayalakshmi B Shetty said that the scheme was not suitable for Dakshina Kannada district. “Pregnant women are taken care at home in the district by providing them nutritious food. In such a scenario, women will not go to anganwadi centres to have food. Further, anganwadi centres are functioning from a small building where there is lack of facilities to cook food for pregnant women,” Vijayalakshmi said.

Anganwadi Workers and Assistants’ Association state president Jayalakshmi B R said the scheme was beneficial for a backward district such as Raichur and would not be successful in Dakshina Kannada district. “Will working pregnant women visit anganwadi centre to have meals in the afternoon?” she wanted to know.

The protesters said anganwadi centres often function from congested buildings and lack utensils, LPG and other facilities for cooking food. If women do not come to anganwadi centres, then the food will be wasted. The assistants will be burdened with additional work as well.

The government should continue the existing scheme of supplying food grains to pregnant and puerperal women at their houses.

They submitted a memorandum to the state government through deputy commissioner.