Promotion of Public Health through Nutrition: An Effort of Krishi Vigyan Kendras

Description

Page: 80-82

Roshmi Rekha Saikia¹, Arifa Momtaz Begum², Manoranjan Neog³, and Rupjyoti Borah⁴ (Subject Matter Specialist, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Bongaigaon, Assam¹, Directorate of Extension Education, Assam Agricultural University Jorhat, Assam^2,4, and Director of Extension Education, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, Assam³)

The Indian government launched a number of social welfare programmes with the goal of empowering rural women, women in general and children. The current study aimed to investigate the utilisation of some selected social welfare schemes among rural women of Lakhimpur district of Assam. For this investigation, four ICDS blocks were chosen at random. A total of eight villages were included, two from each block, using quota sampling. Each village had fifteen respondents and thus total respondent for the study was 120. Data were obtained using a self-prepared Interview Schedule, and suitable statistical tests and techniques, such as frequency, percentage, mean, and chi square, were employed to analyse the data. Findings show that large majority of the respondents (91.67%) had applied for utilizing the benefits of Pradhan Mantri Matru Vanadana Yojana scheme whereas SAKHI-One Stop Centre had no applicants. Around 76.67 per cent respondents utilized the benefits of ICDS whereas SAKHI-One Stop Centre did not have any respondents availing benefits under the scheme among the respondents. Findings further showed that highest percentage (74.17%) utilized the social welfare schemes for children and large majority (96.67%) of the respondents received help from Anganwadi workers or helpers for availing the benefits of the social welfare schemes. With increased awareness, there is possibility for higher utilization of these schemes.