BENGALURU: Kusuma, an orphan, residing along with her two sisters in Malali Koraga colony, on Mangaluru’s outskirts, is able to make ends meet during the lean monsoon period owing to state government’s `Nutritious Food programme for Adivasis’.The programme in its tenth year has been extended to Shivamogga district benefitting nearly 2,500 families from Hasalaru and Gaudalu scheduled tribe (St) communities, ST Welfare Department Director K Revanappa told Express. The programme launched in 2008 now covers eight districts including Mysuru, Chamrajnagar, Kodagu, DK, Udupi, Chickamagalur and Shivmogga districts.
“At least 41,070 tribal families (Koragas, Jenu Kurubas, Kadu Kurubaru, Soligas, Yeravas, Malekudiyas, Siddis, Haslaru and Gaudalu) are benefitting from nutritious food programme being implemented in this fiscal at a total cost of `60 crore,’’ Office Superintendent M Narayanswamy told The New Indian Express. The nutritious food scheme for members of indigenous tribal communities was launched in 2008 close on heels National Family Health Survey (NFHS) report (submitted in 2005-06) revealing that children in tribal communities showed high levels of under nutrition.
The programme during the initial years of implementation covered Jenu Kuruba and Koraga communities, categorised as particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTG). Later the nutritious food programme was extended to cover eight adivasi communities in a phased manner. The nutritious food, comprising of rice (15 kg), Toor dal (5 kg), refined oil (two lts), Jagger/sugar (four kgs), eggs (45) and ghee (one kg) and distributed to the tribal family for next six months from June onwards through Anganwadis.
Ghee was added to the menu following a recommendation from Lokayukta.