Publication:

A comparative study: Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam amrut ahar yojana and take home ration scheme, Armori block, Gadchiroli, Maharashtra

Background Even after forty-five years of ICDS, nutrition, still, continues to be a major public health challenge in India. The impact of ICDS on child growth and development has been rather slow. The present study is a comparison of Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam amruta ahar yojana and take home ration scheme.

Methods The study adapts a combination approach, i.e. qualitative and quantitative method. Qualitative method is used to study the perception of beneficiaries as well as the providers while quantitative method is conducted among 80 beneficiaries with an aim to identify the utilisation pattern of food and level of satisfaction with both the schemes.

Results A total of 80 pregnant women and lactating mothers participated in this study. This study used a questionnaire containing socio-demographic data and utilisation pattern of one-time square meal and dry ration; socio-demographic questions including concerned age group, their education, religion, employment status and income.

Conclusions The findings depict that the provision of amruta ahar is in demand compared to the dry ration of Take-Home Ration Scheme. According to the beneficiaries, amruta ahar yojana is more advantageous as it leads healthy eating practices which are essential during pregnancy and lactation.