Decrease' in anaemia due to Raj govt programmes: PS Food and Civil Supplies

Jaipur: Rajasthan administration has attributed the "decrease" in the cases of anaemia to various programmes launched by it.

Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) has reduced by 40 per cent in the fourth National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4), Principal Secretary Food and Civil Supplies, Subodh Agarwal said, adding the reduction is more than Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.

Also anaemia among women in 15-49 years of age group has reduced by 12 per cent and in men, it decreased by 29 per cent, he said.

"We can credit the decrease in anaemia to various programmes running in the state like iron supplementation, Vitamin A supplementation, de-worming, mid-day meals and fortification," Agarwal said.

"We need to innovate and consider out of the box policy options and act with strong determination for better health and nutrition of our children, he said addressing on role of wheat fortification in reducing anaemia in a programme here.

Fortification has huge health returns, Agarwal said.

With a view to start supplying fortified wheat flour in the state, he said his department had written to department of agriculture and marketing to seek permission for fortification of wheat flour along with edible oil.