Bhubaneswar, Dec 7: A total of 11,710 children are suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) in Odisha, Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida informed the assembly on Saturday.
Parida, who is in charge of the Women and Child Development Department, said this in her reply to a query from BJP MLA Laxman Bag.
Tribal-dominated Mayurbhanj district has reported the highest number of SAM cases at 1,460 followed by 1,269 in Keonjhar district.
While 760 such children were identified in Nabarangpur district, Rayagada reported 645 cases, Kalahandi 636, Malkangiri 570, Ganjam 558 and Balasore 536.
The Women and Child Development Department has been implementing the Supplementary Nutrition Programme, 'Mukhymantri Samproona Pushti Yojana' (MSPY), 'Pada Prusti Karyakram' (PPK) and 'Mamata Diwas'-VHND (Village Health and Nutrition Day) at Anganwadi centres to prevent malnutrition among children, Parida said.
