Chittaranjan Tembhekar,TNN | Feb 12, 2014, 04.45 AM IST

MUMBAI: Around 11% children in Maharashtra's remote areas are still malnourished, revealed an Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) survey carried out across the state recently. Around 2% of them are severely malnourished, stated the survey that included over 52.53 lakh children from the state's tribal belts. 

"Though the percentage of underweight kids had declined by around 8% in 2012 against 2005's status, it is still a challenge to eradicate malnutrition completely," said Vandana Krishna, director general of Rajmata Jijau Mission. "Our aim is to become first state in the country to eradicate malnutrition." 

Women and child development minister Varsha Gaikwad on Tuesday announced a massive campaign against superstitious practices among people in tribal belts with the help of religious preachers (kirtankars). We are holding a workshop of over 600 preachers, saints and varkaris," Gaikwad said. The day-long workshop will be held on February 13 at Devgad in Nevasa taluka in Ahmednagar. 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/11-children-malnourished-in-Maharashtra/articleshow/30247175.cms