The Government has rolled out a Community based management programme for Pregnant & Lactating (P&L) Mothers and malnourished children under 6 years across the country under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme.
Under the restructured and strengthened ICDS scheme, from 2012 a number of new components have been introduced. One of these components is “SnehaShivir”, designed to be a community based approach for the prevention and management of moderate and severe under nutrition. SnehaShivir has been introduced in 200 high burden districts of the country and is to be serviced through an Additional Anganwadi Worker/ Nutrition Counsellor at the Anganwadi Centre.
The concept of SnehaShivirs is based on the premise that some children thrive better than others because their care givers follow some positive care practices. These practices need to be promoted to convince mothers/care givers of under nourished children. Many such practices are rooted in local traditions and practices and are therefore culturally acceptable, affordable and sustainable. Care behaviors are intrinsically linked and include infant and young child feeding, health, hygiene, psycho social care and care for girls and women.
The scheme provides for holding of SnehaShivirs at an Anganwadi Centre (AWC) selected from amongst a cluster of 4-5 AWCs and is organized in areas where the number of moderately and severely underweight children is high. Its overall goal is to ensure quick rehabilitation of undernourished children; enable families to sustain rehabilitation; and prevent future undernutrition by changing behaviors in child care, feeding and health seeking. Key strategies include i) orientation of Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) and Supervisors; ii) 100% weight monitoring and tracking using growth charts and the Mother and Child Protection Card; iii) involving the community in identification and management; iv) showcasing positive practices and v) setting up of nutritional care and counseling sessions. Each SnehaShivir comprises of a session of 12 days followed in month by 18 days home based practices. During the sessions, the best practices prevalent in the community are learnt by caregivers through a process of “Learning by Doing”.
The activities undertaken during the session are weight recording, deworming and administration of Iron and Folic Acid, learning by doing feeding sessions, counseling, care practices, case management and assessment of adequate weight gain, medical support and referral and follow up action in 18 days home care.
During the years 2013-14 and 2014-15, 1,61,665 and 2,07,189 SnehaShivir camps have been sanctioned respectively.
Malnourishment amongst the women is mainly caused due to anaemia. As per the National Family Health Survey -3 (2005-06) data, the prevalence of anemia among women (15-49 years) is 55.3%.
Government of Chhattisgarh on its own is implementing Mukhya Mantri Bal Sandharbha Yojana, Nawajatan, Dattak Putri Suposhan Yojana and VajanTyohaar for improvement in nutritional status of women and children in the State.
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