Palghar | September 11, 2026 — Palghar district authorities will place 799 malnourished children under intensified monitoring through the ‘Suposhan Sathi Palghar’ initiative, with senior Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti officials taking responsibility for follow-up care, supplementary nutrition and access to government welfare schemes.
The initiative was launched at the district-level inauguration of the ninth National Nutrition Month programme at the Palghar Zilla Parishad office. The event was chaired by Palghar district collector Dr Indu Rani Jakhar and attended by Zilla Parishad chief executive officer Manoj Ranade and officials from the health, women and child development, rural development and administrative departments.
The first phase will focus on 65 children classified as severely malnourished, or SAM. The district plans to implement this phase from September 15, 2026, to March 15, 2027. A subsequent phase will cover 734 children classified as moderately malnourished, or MAM, through officials and staff working at the taluka and village levels.
Under the programme, each child will receive a health card recording health and nutrition details. The official assigned to a child is expected to visit the child and family at least once a month and review immunisation, medical examinations, weight, growth, food intake and any need for medicines. Officials will also coordinate with health workers and Accredited Social Health Activists involved in the child’s care.
The programme extends beyond supplementary food for individual children. Officials will assess each family’s social and economic circumstances and prepare an action plan to connect it with relevant government schemes. The plan includes improving access to safe drinking water, hygiene guidance, childcare information and food supplies such as milk, eggs, sprouted pulses and other protein-rich items.
Families may also receive counselling, where required, on substance dependence and superstitious practices. Authorities will examine whether children need admission to Village Child Development Centres or Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres, where they can receive medical attention and additional protein-rich nutrition.
The district administration has also included improvements to anganwadi centres in the initiative. These may cover essential facilities, drinking-water access and the delivery of supplementary nutrition. The programme is intended to coordinate the work of district officials, local administration, anganwadi personnel, health workers and families rather than limit intervention to the child’s weight or immediate diet.
According to the report presented at the programme, the number of malnourished children in Palghar has declined comparatively, but authorities said continued nutritional support and closer monitoring remain necessary. The district administration has assigned responsibilities to Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti officials, while the wider implementation will involve village-level staff and anganwadi workers.
District collector Jakhar briefed officials and employees on the campaign, while chief executive officer Ranade called for their active and sensitive participation. The first phase is scheduled to begin on September 15, with monthly reviews continuing through March 15, 2027.
