The Centre has finally selected two districts each in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan for a pilot scheme to study whether cash transfers will work better instead of take-home ration for pregnant women and lactating mothers as well as children between six months and three years of age, more than a year after it was announced, according to officials with knowledge of the matter.
The decision was taken at a review meeting of the Scientific Steering Committee of the “Poshan Abhiyaan” or National Nutrition Mission last week in which representatives from the ministries of women and child development, health and family welfare, technical experts, federal policy think tank Niti Aayog, among others were present.
The pilot scheme will be launched in Lucknow’s Chinhat and Mohanlalganj blocks and Sitapur’s Khairabad and Mahmudabad blocks in Uttar Pradesh.
In Rajasthan, Chaksu block in Jaipur district and Kishangarh block in Ajmer district have been selected.
The pilot will be monitored by the Indian Council of Medical Research. A meeting has been scheduled for August 10 where representatives from both states will attend a workshop.
Read more of this in a report by Amrita Madhukalya published in the Hindustan Times... (Link given below)
