Karwar: North Kannada District In-charge Secretary Manish Moudgil has instructed district level officials to submit a proposal for simplification of ‘Mathru Poorna’ scheme, implemented by State government to meet the nutritional needs of pregnant and lactating women, across the State.

Addressing the District Progress Review meeting here, on Thursday, he said, rules of Mathru Poorna’ scheme need to be simplified in North Karnataka district. In this regard, the proposal should be submitted to make corrections in rules at the government level, he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Commissioner S S Nakul said, as the district has Malnad, coastal and hilly areas, it has been a problem to provide nutritional supplements through Anganwadi centres for pregnant and lactating women.

According to the rules, nutritional supplements should be provided to pregnant women from the third month of her pregnancy and up to six months after delivery. But during this stage it is difficult for beneficiaries to come from the hilly areas to anganwadi centres for getting nutritional supplements. In this case, supplements can be provided though self help groups, he suggested.

“In addition to this, it is impossible for pregnant and lactating women to come out of their homes, in the high temperatures of coastal areas. Therefore, it is necessary to examine the implementation rules of scheme,” he noted.

Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer L Chandrashekhar Naik, Additional Deputy Commissioner H Prasanna, Deputy Director of Women & Child Development Department Rajendra Bekal were present.