Lucknow, February 16 Uttar Pradesh Women and Child Development and Nutrition Minister Baby Rani Maurya said in the Assembly on Monday that children in the state are being provided supplementary nutrition according to prescribed standards, and that malnutrition levels have declined.
However, she was unable to answer a supplementary question raised by a Samajwadi Party (SP) member and said the reply would be sent in writing.
During the Question Hour, SP member Dr. Ragini Sonkar had sought details through a written question regarding special schemes to reduce chronic malnutrition among children in the state. The minister presented a written reply.
Raising a supplementary question, Sonkar alleged that children, lactating mothers, pregnant women, and adolescent girls in the state continue to suffer from malnutrition and anemia.
She claimed that over 50 per cent of children, women, and adolescent girls are affected by malnutrition.
She further questioned whether the government is sensitive to the plight of adolescent girls, mothers, and children, and alleged irregularities in the department. Referring to the prescribed nutritional norms, she said the standard allocation is Rs 8 per day for children aged six months to six years, Rs 9.50 for women, and Rs 12 for adolescent girls.
Citing rising prices, she said that gram costs around Rs 80 per kilogram, milk Rs 66 per litre, and an egg more than Rs 5. "If 250 ml of milk is given to a child, it itself costs around Rs 12. In such a situation, how are you ensuring a 600-calorie meal with 30 grams of protein under the existing norms?" she asked, raising several other supplementary queries.
SP member Pankaj Malik also raised supplementary questions related to malnourished children in the Muzaffarnagar district.
When Maurya began responding, Assembly Speaker Satish Mahana pointed out that members already had access to the written reply and asked her to address the specific supplementary questions raised.
Maurya said that the additional details sought had not been part of the original written question and she might not be able to respond immediately.
In response to the Speaker's observation that the "supplementary question was related to the main question", the minister said that the information sought separately by the member would be provided in writing.