Bhubaneswar: In line with the government’s persistent efforts to ensure food and nutrition security, India has been implementing the ICDS. The Take Home Rations (THR) programme, which is part of the Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP) under ICDS, offers fortified rations for use at home for children aged 6 to 36 months as well as pregnant and lactating women.
It aims at bridging the nutrition gap among them. SNP is provided in two ways: Take-Home Rations and Hot-Cooked Meals at Anganwadi Centers.
A decentralised production model is used for last-mile delivery of THR to beneficiaries, in addition to boosting local economies and creating jobs. The THR product is guaranteed to be nutritious and to contain enough ingredients to meet the nutritional needs of the intended beneficiaries.
World Food Programme (WFP) and Government of India signed a partnership agreement on 25th February 2021 to enhance the overall quality, demand and consumption of the supplementary nutrition provided through the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS). WFP agreed to provide technical assistance for enhancing the nutritional composition of existing THR (Chhatua) and implement need-based pilots in Odisha.
As a pilot initiative, WFP has formulated and tested two improved THR products, namely Chhatua – Sweet and Chhatua- Savoury and has set up the first of its kind, an automated THR Unit in Titilagarh (Model THR Unit), Bolangir. For setting up the THR unit, the construction of the building was led by the District Administration of Bolangir.
The THR Unit has the capacity of producing 1.6 MT of product in 8 hours and the unit will be operated by the 20 members of Mamata Shakti Sanchayika BLF Titilagarh identified by the District Administration of Bolangir.
The Model THR Unit, Titilagarh, Bolangir was inaugurated by Atanu sabyasachi Nayak, Minister, Food Supply & Consumer Welfare, Cooperation, Tukuni Sahu, Minister Water Resources and Commerce &Transport, and Basanti Hembram Minister, Women and Child Development on Monday to empower communities (especially women) by increasing awareness on the importance of food security and nutritious diet.
Chanchal Rana, Collector, Bolangir, Manoj S Mahajan, Sub Collector, Titilagarh and Himanshu Bal, Head, WFP, Odisha attended the event. WFP will provide technical support for upgradation of existing units in the State.
