Bhopal, Sept 14: Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in order to generate awareness towards malnutrition in the rural areas of the state will informally dedicate the 'Project Shaktiman', a special scheme introduced to check malnutrition among the children in tribal block Kesla of Hoshangabad district on September 28. The well-known TV artists Mukesh Khanna, who has played the role of Shaktiman in the TV serial would also present on the occasion. This information was given during the second session of the training programme organised for the district programme officers and child development project officers here today. The training programme was organised by the department of woman and child development in co-operation with the UNICEF. The Principal Secretary of Woman and Child Development Prashant Mehta and director Kalpana Shrivastava were present on the occasion.

The officer of the woman and child development of district Hoshangabad Swarnima Shukla informed that as many as 1525 children of 25 villages are being benefited in Kesla block She pointed out that the project has started giving result within a period of two months from its implementation. The children have been given Shaktiman dress which have made them center of attraction for the people.

It may be mentioned that the project Shaktiman is being implemented in 38 blocks of 19 districts of the state. Under the project, 29 clusters with 25 villages each have been formed. A total of 997 villages including 872 predominant tribal villages and 125 other villages are included under the clusters. About 60 thousand children would be benefited by this project. The project has been prepared on the basis of facts surfaced during the Bal Sanjivini Campaign that rate of malnutrition is high in some of the predominant tribal villages of the state. Moreover, to attain the target set under the project, nutritious food rate has been increased from Rs six to Rs two per head. Also, honorarium of the aaganwadi workers and assistants has been enhanced and timings of the aaganwadis has been extended.

A total number of 64 officers of 19 districts have been imparted training by Dr Sheela Bhambal, Dr Honey Jhalani and Dr Vandana Agarwal in two sessions of the training programme. All these master trainers would now impart training to their subordinates posted in their concerned districts to attain the goals of the project through its proper implementation.