Assam’s Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma has hailed the success of the state’s innovative nutrition project, ‘Matsya Paripushti,’ which has significantly reduced malnutrition among children in Kamrup district.
The project, launched under the PM Matsya Sampada Yojana, aimed to combat child malnutrition by incorporating nutrient-rich small fish powder into children’s diets.
The pilot project, conducted by the Kamrup district administration, focused on children aged 3 to 10 years in 55 Anganwadi Centres and 43 Lower Primary Schools.
Approximately 3,300 children benefited from this initiative, which sought to provide an alternative source of protein to enhance dietary diversity.
"The project’s impacted in a 3.63% reduction in the number of severely stunted children, a 5.46% decrease in underweight children, and a 1.67% drop in severely underweight children," CM Sarma said.
Additionally, there was a notable improvement in children’s overall health metrics, with the average Body Mass Index (BMI) increasing from 15.54 to 16.11, average weight rising from 23.83 kg to 25.12 kg, and average height improving from 122.83 cm to 123.95 cm.
The initiative also empowered local fish farmers by involving them in the production of fish powder, thereby integrating local resources into the fight against malnutrition.
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