Bengaluru, 30 Jan

Admitting the challenge of growing malnutrition among women and children, Minister for Medical Education, Skill Development and Livelihood Sharan Prakash Patil urged the people to make use of Central and State government schemes to address malnutrition.

The minister was speaking after inaugurating a two-day workshop on food, nutrition and health-hygiene organised by National Rural Livelihood Mission here. Expressing concern over the growing malnutrition among pregnant women and children in Kalyana Karnataka region, the minister stressed on the need to eradicate poverty and illiteracy in the society to get rid of malnutrition. “In order to address malnutrition among the children, our government is providing eggs to schoolchildren twice a week and those who don’t consume eggs would be provided banana and chikki. Our government has launched Anaemia Mukta Poushtika Karnataka (Anaemia-free Nutrition Karnataka) scheme to address anaemia and malnutrition among newborns, children, teens, pregnant and lactating mothers. This will improve the situation gradually,” Patil said.

Emphasising on the importance of women’s role in making any scheme successful, the minister stressed on the need of women self-help groups. “The Stree Shakthi women self-help groups started by former chief minister SM Krishna in 1999 did a great job in improving rural economy. Dharmasthala Rural Development self-help group and many organisations have helped women become economically self-reliant. The society today needs such organizations. Karnataka has become a role model in the country in empowering women, our schemes are being applauded at national and international level,” the minister said.

Exhibition draws attention

An exhibition that was organised as part of the workshop has attracted many people. More than 19 states, including Karnataka, Kerala, West Bengal, Manipur, Assam, Sikkim, Nagaland and Mizoram, participated in the exhibition highlighting nutritional food for children, preventing malnutrition deaths, improving pregnant women’s health and locally produced products.

Senior officials, including Uma Mahadevan, Additional Secretary, Skill Development department; Smriti Sharan, Joint Director, Rural Livelihood Mission; PI Srividya, Director, National Livelihood Mission; and Anupama, Chief Operating Officer, KMAS; attended the programme.

‘Govt committed to create job opportunities’

Promising to safeguard the interest of students and youths, Patil on Tuesday said the State government is committed to ensure their bright future and create job opportunities. The minister was speaking after inaugurating a conference on entrepreneurship development organised in coordination with Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry here.

Admitting the massive challenge of addressing unemployment, the minister said it would be a herculean task to provide jobs to all as per their qualification. “The government has been focusing on making everyone self-reliant. We have implemented Yuva Nidhi scheme which saw an overwhelming response from the eligible candidates,” Patil said.

Emphasising Karnataka’s prominence, the minister said the entire country looks up to the State owing to its world class infrastructure and educational institutions. "Karnataka is a developed State and one of the few states that make huge contributions to central taxes. It is known as the capital of evolving new industry because of growing number of companies setting up their operations here,” Patil said.

The minister urged FKCCI to work towards changing the perception that only engineering and science graduates get jobs easily compared to art, commerce graduates, ITI and diploma holders. The minister said the Skill Development department would make all the efforts to provide skill education and training to the eligible candidates and urged them to make use of the Kaushalya Council which was started to help them.

The minister asked the students and youths to brace themselves to face the emerging challenges in every sector. —Salar News