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Time of India
24-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
CFTRI launches nutrition programme for malnourished preschoolers
Mysuru: City-based premier R&D institute CFTRI launched a nutrition intervention programme for malnourished preschool children in Mysuru district on Friday. This is a joint project initiated by CFTRI and Bank Note Paper Mill India, an RBI unit. The initiative has been taken up under the corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds. It will be executed in association with the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare Services (DHFW) and the Directorate of Women and Child Development Department (DWCD). The project was launched in the presence of Thalikerappa, managing director of BNPM; B Basavaraj, deputy director of Women and Child; Dr Mohammed Shiraz Ahmed, reproductive and child health officer (RCHO). CFTRI director Sridevi Annapurna Singh was also present. Thalikerappa launched the project by distributing nutrition food supplement kits to five malnourished children. He assured that Bank Note Paper Mill India is ready to provide more funds under the CSR initiative for the eradication of anaemia in pregnant women across the state. Speaking on the occasion, Basavaraj said the ICDS programme, which was incepted in 1975 with the involvement of state and central govts, reduced malnutrition over the years. He said the CFTRI nutrition intervention programmes that provide additional nutrient supplements are required for reducing malnutrition among children. He also mentioned that such intervention programmes have to be extended to adolescent girls in tribal regions. Dr Ahmed said additional nutritional supplements are required for filling the gaps in the nutritional adequacies of children. He also highlighted that child undernutrition is the outcome of maternal malnutrition and providing nutrition intervention to pregnant women would be a good strategy for improving child nutritional status. The CFTRI director mentioned that alleviation of malnutrition through nutrition intervention requires a combined effort. Dharanikumara, chief general manager, BNPM, and the doctors from MMCRI, Mysuru, Dr Nayas Pasha, Dr Rangaswamy, and Dr Shubha Jayaram also attended the event. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Brother's Day wishes , messages and quotes !
The Hindu
23-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
CFTRI: Nutrition programme for malnourished children launched in Mysuru
The CSIR–Central Food Technological Research Institute (CSIR-CFTRI), Mysuru, has launched a 'Nutrition Intervention Programme' aimed at improving the nutritional status of malnourished preschool children in the Mysuru district. This initiative is being implemented with financial support from Bank Note Paper Mill India Pvt. Ltd. (BNPM), Mysuru, under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative. The programme is a collaborative effort involving CSIR-CFTRI, the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare Services (DHFW), and the Directorate of Women and Child Development (DWCD). A total of 600 malnourished preschool children have been selected for the programme, with 500 children set to receive nutritional support through scientifically formulated food kits. These kits, developed by CSIR-CFTRI, consist of high-energy and high-protein supplementary foods fortified with key micronutrients such as Iron, Vitamin A, and Zinc. The food kits will be distributed monthly for a period of six months. The impact of the intervention will be assessed through comprehensive evaluations of the children's anthropometric and biochemical parameters, carried out in collaboration with the Mysore Medical College and Research Centre (MMCRI), according to a release. Protein-energy malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies continue to pose significant public health challenges among preschool children in India. According to the National Family Health Survey-5, nearly one-third of children under five years are underweight or stunted, and 62% suffer from anaemia. 'These deficiencies not only impair physical growth but also hinder cognitive development, compromise immunity, and disrupt metabolic functions. Studies have shown that undernourished children face a heightened risk of developing non-communicable diseases later in life, with many of these developmental impairments being irreversible if not addressed early,' the release added. In response to this issue, the nutrition intervention programme has been launched. The programme was launched on Thursday at CSIR-CFTRI. Thalikerappa, managing director of BNPM, was the chief guest on the occasion. B. Basavaraj, deputy director of DWCD, Mohammed Shiraz Ahmed, reproductive and child health officer of DHFW, and Sridevi Annapurna Singh, director of CSIR-CFTRI, who presided over the event, were present. During the launch, nutrition supplement kits were symbolically distributed to five children. Jyothi Lakshmi, senior principal scientist at CSIR-CFTRI, provided insights into the programme and highlighted the institute's long-standing research and interventions in combating malnutrition. Dr. Sridevi Annapurna Singh, in her address, emphasised that the success of previous nutrition programmes conducted in Nanjangud and Purulia (West Bengal) has inspired the expansion of such initiatives. She underlined the importance of larger sample sizes for better validation and encouraged continued collaboration with government departments, local healthcare providers, and CSR-backed organisations to combat malnutrition effectively. Dharanikumara, chief general manager of BNPM, along with medical experts from MMCRI, including Nayas Pasha, Rangaswamy, and Shubha Jayaram, were also present.
