55,300 School Students In Karnataka To Get Tablets In Pilot Project Bangalore: Every Monday, children in all 55,300 government and aided schools in the state will be given iron and folic acid tablets. The Union health and family welfare ministry on Wednesday launched its pilot project in Karnataka to beat anaemia among schoolchildren. J Jennipher Prisculla, a 13-year-old class 8 student of St Joseph’s Convent Girls’ High School, Bangalore, was the first beneficiary of the National Weekly Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation Programme for Adolescents. At the launch of the programme, Jennipher was given the 150 mg blue-coloured tablet by Union health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad. The programme aims to help school-going children and even school dropouts in the age group of 10-19 years overcome anemia. Karnataka is the first state in the country to launch the programme. Speaking at the launch, Anuradha Gupta, additional secretary and mission director, National Rural Health Mission, said over 80% of children aged three and below suffer from anemia. “Over 54% of girls up to 18 years of age, over 50% of adolescent boys, and over 16% of pregnant women suffer from anaemia. By administering iron and folic acid tablets at the right age, we can increase the productivity of the entire nation,” she said. MONDAY IS TABLET DAY Speaking at the event, chief minister Siddaramaiah said, “This project will also reach out to school dropouts. Such children can avail of the medicine once a week at anganwadi centres. The tablet has to be given to schoolchildren every Monday. If a student does not turn up on Monday, the medicine has to be given whenever he or she comes to school next.” To begin with, the tablet will be given for 52 weeks. The project will cost the state exchequer Rs 9 crore. No ‘asha’ for these health activists The accredited social health activists (Asha) workers, the link workers in implementation of the Union government’s health scheme, haven’t been given incentives for three months. But state health minister UT Khader asked them to carry on with the work, with or without payment. “We are getting paid once in three months. How are we supposed to carry on with our daily expenditure without proper payment,” asked C Rathna, an Asha worker. Khader said Asha workers are quintessential to implementation of the National Rural Health Mission in rural areas. “Please do not stop working because of irregular incentives. They have to come from the central government. I know your problems. This year’s budget has already been tabled. In next year’s budget I will definitely do my best to help you all,” Khader said. Another Asha worker complained that they were paid Rs 100 for every delivery they did, as against the Rs 300 promised to them. FIRST IN INDIA I am told this tablet will give me strength. I felt happy to be the first one to take the medicine, and that too from the Union minister. I am healthy, and this tablet makes me healthier