Child survival, development plan on the anvil

Chennai, Feb 8 - The central and state governments are preparing a roadmap for accelerating child survival and development, Minister for Women and Child Development Krishna Tirath said Friday.

Tirath said the central government is engaging all high burden states to prepare and implement a strategic roadmap for accelerating child survival and development beyond 2015.

Speaking at the three-day summit India's Call to Action: Child Survival and Development Summit at Mamallapuram, around 70 km from here, she said that a multi-sectoral programme to address maternal and child malnutrition has also been put into place.

The programme is being implemented in 200 high burden districts.

According to her, a maternity cash benefit scheme has been launched for empowering pregnant women and adolescent girls.

The minister also said that a National Mission for Empowerment of Women has been started while restructuring information, education and communication campaign on malnutrition.

The three-day event is organised by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare with the United Nations Children's Fund - and United States Agency for International Development -.