Lack of awareness among people, particularly among pregnant women, has led to an increase in the infant mortality rate (IMR) and maternity mortality rate (MMR) in the district.

Women are unable to get proper nutrition during their pregnancy and child lactation period in rural areas.

On a pilot basis, the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) and Indira Kanti Patham (IKP) started a nutrition programme in selected 10 mandals. According to official sources, there are 943 pregnant women, 896 women who have delivered and 2,923 children aged between 3-11 years in the 10 mandals of Dharpally, Sirikonda, Yellareddy, Nagireddypet, Lingampet, Gandhari, Tadwai, Machareddy, Domakonda and Dichpally mandals, identified as malnutrition areas.

Officials have set up 72 nutrition-cum-day care centres (NDCC) in these mandals to provide nutritious food to these groups.

They have been providing nutritious food worth Rs.30 per day per head. Officials have also been collecting Rs.10 from beneficiaries as community contribution. Instead of supplying food at the homes of beneficiaries, officials insist that they eat the food at the NDCC only. As women face social stigma in eating out, and cannot give Rs.10 contribution, many do not come.

Speaking to this newspaper, IKP district project manager (health and nutrition) Ms Sandhya Rani said that they were creating awareness among women on nutritious food during pregnancy. Village organisations (VO) were playing a key role in implementing the nutrition programme, she said. There is a requirement of setting up of NDCCs at tribal habitations, Ms Sandhya Rani added.