A coalition of civil society activits has criticized the Union Budget 2023-24 for reducing government spending on the social sector by a massive amount. The economic crisis induced by the Covid-19 pandemic was borne disproportionately by those at the bottom of the pyramid and in this context spending on social protection schemes such as the Public Distribution System, Anganwadis, pensions and MGNREGA is especially important. But the Government of India has...

-Scroll.in Less than half the malnourished children admitted at the district’s nutrition rehabilitation centres since 2021 have gained the targeted weight. Chandni Patle placed Bau Pawara, a feeble-looking 17-month-old baby, on an electronic weighing machine. The child, with bony limbs, was quiet and inactive – unusual for toddlers his age. It was early September, and this was his fourth check-up in two months at the nutrition rehabilitation centre in Dhadgaon, in Maharashtra’s...

-PTI/ Livemint.com Rubal Agrawal, commissioner of state Women and Child Welfare department, said 'nutrition month' will be celebrated in all 1.10 lakh Anganwadis in the state from September 1 to 30. The fifth state level 'nutrition month' programme was launched on Thursday in Thane by Maharashtra Women and Child Development Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha. He said the state government was positive about increasing the honorarium of anganwadi workers and a decision would...

-Newsclick.in Meanwhile, output has also dipped due to weather ravages, which hints at tough times in coming months. Strange as it may sound but rice and wheat allocation for distribution through various welfare schemes has been steadily dipping in the past several years. It is strange because the population is growing and even the Supreme Court has urged the Central government to revise its population norms for food grain allocation since these...

-The Telegraph 'Shocking that govt is trying to evade responsibility by issuing circulars that call on state governments to comply with FSSAI regulations' Jamshedpur, New Delhi: Two citizens’ alliances on Monday accused the Centre of trying to “cover up” what they have described as its “irresponsible” and “unscientific” decision to release iron-fortified rice through government food schemes and exposing vulnerable people to the potential health risks of iron overdose. The Right to Food...