Women and Children Initiatives

Balamrutham

“Balamrutham” is the weaning food introduced under ICDS to provide improved supplementary nutrition to children between 7 months to 3 years. The weaning food is a preparation of wheat, chana dal, milk powder, oil and sugar. It is fortified and thus provides 50% of iron, calcium, vitamins and other RDA that children require per day. The composition and nutritive values of Balamrutham is indicated at Table-I and II respectively.

The recommended quantity is 100 gms which is to be given to children 3-5 times every day. For children below one year, Balamrutham can be served as porridge mixed with hot water and for older children, it can be given in the form of “Laddu”.

Balamrutham is distributed in packets of 2.5 Kg per child per month. It is distributed on first day of every month on Nutrition Health Day-1 to mothers of 7 months - 3 years children as Take Home Ration. Along with Balamrutham packet, these children also receive 2 eggs a week at the AWC under ICDS Food Model for 7months to 3 years.

Balamrutham serves not only as a weaning food but also as a caloric dense food to reduce malnutrition and is therefore used as part of Supervised feeding for malnourished children.

Balamrutham Plus

Balamrutham Plus, which was developed by the Department of Women Development and Child Welfare in association with the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN).As a pilot project, Balamrutham Plus was first implemented in Komaram Bheem District and Gadwal district.Balamrutham Plus has more supplements and provides additional nutrients to children.

Aarogya Lakshmi Scheme

Aarogya Lakshmi scheme is a nutritional program to support pregnant and lactating women by the Government of Telangana. The scheme is available for women below and above poverty line, over 2.71 lakh pregnant women and 2.03 lakh lactating mothers are being served one full meal at 35,000 Anganwadi centres in the State. It is designed on the lines of the World Health Organization guidelines on nutrition for women and children.

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