Pilot projects launched in Sindh's two districts to reduce malnutrition: adviser

Advisor to Chief Minister Sindh on Social Welfare, Shamim Mumtaz has said that Sindh government has started Accelerated Action Plan under multi-sectoral project in social welfare department under which a pilot project has been launched in Mitthi and Umer Kot districts of province to reduce malnutrition in the children.
Briefing media regarding performance of social welfare department, she said that eleven development schemes were included in annual development program for which Rs 290 million were allocated adding that five schemes has been completed. She said that social welfare department was an important department after health and education departments as it has mandate for welfare of senior citizens, special persons, transgender, child protection and providing shelter to women in need.
She said that during last two years we had focused child protection adding that we have received 950 complaints regarding children at our child protection units across the province which were resolved while 45 child abuse complaints were also reported at the child protection units.
She said that a pilot project has recently been started under which five complaints boxes were installed at various prominent places in Hyderabad city with help of police department and added that it will be replicated in other parts of province also. She said that shelter homes' working in Sukkur, Hyderabad and Larkana has been given additional funds for provision of quality food for shelter seekers and at average per head feeding budget has been enhanced from Rs 45 per day to Rs 630 per head. She said 18 special children centers have been provide vehicles for the pick and drop of children.
She said that action has been initiated against the registered and unregistered NGOs which use children for collecting charities ahead of Ramazan adding that in this regard complaints were received from Ittehad Town, Mehran Town and Hill Park and other parts of city. She advised citizens not to extend any kind of charity to professional beggars on signal and roads rather help nearer one in their surrounding and neighboRs
She called them seasonal professional beggars and said that they move to Karachi from all parts of country ahead of Ramadan and when crop season approaches they returned to their homes. She warned parents who compelled their children for begging and said that it is crime under law which is punishable. She asked parents stop considering children as money making machines and send them to school as it is their born right.
She said that political parties and our opponent only play politics on Thar while we had taken concrete steps for saving children lives. She said that pregnant women from day one to two years period would be provided conditional cash and 1500 rupees per month or per checkup would be provided to motheRs She also informed that we are also considering providing delivery grants to motheRs