Expecting, lactating tribal mothers in Maharashtra to get cooked meal every day !!!

The Maharashtra government approved a revised scheme, named APJ Abdul Kalam Amrut Yojna, for expecting and lactating women in the tribal areas of the state. The scheme aims to provide at least one full hot nutritious meal to every pregnant lady and lactating mother. 

The main highlights of the scheme: 

* Free hot cooked meal will take into consideration the beneficiary's food preference; food will be provided for six months, beginning from third trimester of pregnancy to three months after delivery; meal will include pulses, rice, fruits, vegetables and boiled eggs with occasional supply of milk

* Anganwadi workers, tribal women and local meal committees will implement the scheme.

* Women and Child Welfare Department will spend Rs 10 crore as stipend to anganwadi workers.

* Four-member meal committee will be constituted in every tribal village across 16 districts.

* Woman panchayat member will head the committee, along with two pregnant or lactating mothers and an anganwadi worker.

* The implementation of the yojna will ensure that the babies benefit during the lactation period, which will eventually help curb malnutrition among tribal children.

Maternity leave is the reason for poor basic education! Eh Seriously????

 Gujarat on National Education Policy: Draft report blames maternity leave for poor basic education

High number of women teachers and subsequent maternity leaves were listed among the 70-odd factors affecting elementary education in the draft report of the National Education Policy (NEP) prepared by Gujarat government. The draft report, prepared by state education department after a district-level consultation on school education, also suggested creating a reserve of teachers to combat the problem of frequent maternity leaves. It will be submitted to the Ministry of Human Resource Development soon. Please read the story here