Bhubaneswar, Jan. 10: The state government today decided to launch the centrally-sponsored Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls in nine districts of the state.

The scheme to be launched in 2011-12 in Koraput, Gajapati, Mayurbhanj, Sundergarh, Kalahandi, Bhadrak, Puri, Cuttack and Bargarh, will focus on nutritional health and awareness of adolescent girls, said planning and coordination minister A.U. Singh Deo. During a review meeting, Singh Deo asked officials to involve communities and open more anganwadi centres in backward regions to tackle malnutrition. “Funds will be made available from various state and central schemes such as Backward Region Grant Fund, Gopanbandhu Yojana, Biju KBK Yojana, Integrated Action Plan and MLA local area development fund for the construction of anganwadi centers. Of 60,000 anganwadi centres, only 19,000 have their own buildings.”

He added: “A special campaign under supplementary nutrition programme involving region specific interventions will involve education for mothers, good feeding habits, fortified meals and regular checking of malnourished children.”

Although there has been a decline in the malnutrition rate, it continues to be a major challenge for planners, officials said. Member of Parliament, Balangir, K.N. Singh Deo, development commissioner R.N. Senapati, secretary, women and child development Arati Ahuja, special secretary planning and coordination R.V. Singh, director, National Rural Health Mission, P.K. Meherda and chief of Unicef, Shairose Mowzi, and others attended the meeting.