New Delhi, Feb 17 (PTI) Leading international NGO 'Save the Children' today requested Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit to constitute a nutrition mission in the city to ensure proper dietary supplement for kids suffering from malnutrition. The request was made by CEO of the NGO, Jasmine Whitbread, during a meeting with Dikshit. Appreciating the NGO's efforts, Dikshit said health of the children was key to future of the country. "If our future is weak, our society will face serious difficulties. If a child is born weak or becomes weak because of nutrition-related reasons, we have to pay attention," she said. Dikshit said parents need to be educated on healthy diet for their children. "We cannot talk in terms of calories, proteins and carbohydrates. We have to tell parents what they should provide to children Â- daliya, vegetables, fruit, etc," Dikshit said. 'Save the Children, India' CEO Thomas Chandy said India's progress on infant and child mortality rates in relation to the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target was inadequate. According to the NGO, Delhi's figures on stunted and underweight children of 43.2 per cent and 24.9 per cent are marginally better than national figure of 44.9 per cent and 22.9 per cent. Save the Children is currently operating in over 120 countries and the focus area of the NGO includes helping marginalised children and ensuring their overall growth. PTI MPB
