The Government of Karnataka has launched Mathru Poorna, a scheme meant to meet the nutritional needs of pregnant and lactating women in rural Karnataka. Under the programme, pregnant and lactating women in rural areas will get one nutritious meal daily for 25 days in a month.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah launched the programme and said a full meal, consisting of rice, dal with vegetables/sambar, one boiled egg and 200ml of milk, will be given to pregnant women. Those who don’t eat eggs would be given two varieties of sprouts. This meal will meet 40-45% of the daily calorie, protein and calcium requirement per day of the pregnant and lactating mothers.
Along with the meal, Iron Folic Acid (IFA) tablets will be administered and gestational weight monitoring will be ensured for pregnant women.
Based on the previous experience in pilot blocks, the scheme has been scaled up in all the districts of the State, benefiting around 12 lakh pregnant women and lactating mother, and anganwadi assistants and helpers.
The scheme will be implemented through anganwadis in the State. Each meal is estimated to cost around Rs 20. The food will be provided for 15 months, from the start of pregnancy up to six months after delivery.
