Maharashtra government signs MoU with Jamshedji Tata Trust, UNICEF

NEW DELHI: Maharashtra government's Women and Child Development department today said it has signed a MoU with the Jamshedji Tata Trust and UNICEF to launch a pilot community project to tackle the issue of child malnutrition in the state's tribal district, Nandurbar.

The project is the outcome of the five-point agenda laid by Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and state's Women and Child Development minister Varsha Gaikwad to overcome the challenge of malnutrition in Maharashtra, with special focus on tribal areas, the department of Women and Child Development said in a statement.

Speaking about project, Gaikwad said: "Malnutrition remains the biggest threat to the survival, growth and physical and mental development of children, despite significant progress in various social and economic indicators over the years."

"It poses a significant public health challenge for global prosperity and security. We are happy to partner with Jamshedji Tata Trust and UNICEF to bring about a positive change in the lives of people in rural and tribal areas," she added.

According to the Comprehensive Nutrition Survey Maharashtra 2012, the prevalence of stunting in the state among children under two has decreased from 39 per cent in 2006 to 23 per cent in 2012. According to the survey, the incidence of children with Severe Acute Malnutrition is 4.5 per cent in Maharashtra.