Curry leaf, moringa plantation drive in Siddipet schools to tackle iron deficiency

After finding about 35 per cent of children suffer from haemoglobin deficiency during a health survey conducted by the health department, Collector Manu Chowdary sought suggestions from the officials to address the issue, instead of just giving regular supplements.

Siddipet: To curb iron and haemoglobin deficiency among school children, particularly girls, the Siddipet district administration has decided to encourage them to include curry leaves and moringa leaves in their daily diet.

After finding about 35 per cent of children suffer from haemoglobin deficiency during a health survey conducted by the health department, Collector Manu Chowdary sought suggestions from the officials to address the issue, instead of just giving regular supplements. District panchayat officer (DPO) Devak Devi suggested it could be addressed permanently if they make these two leaves regular in their diet. She further observed that the plantation of curry leaves and moringa plants on the premises of the schools would help the children consume them regularly.

As the Collector suggested the DPO take responsibility for planting these saplings in the government schools across the district, Devaki Devi issued directions to panchayat secretaries, and panchayat workers in 499 grama panchayats to plant curry leaf plants in all the schools under their purview. Speaking to Telangana Today, Devaki Devi said she asked them to plant 10 saplings in high schools and 5 saplings in primary schools. She further said she also suggested the school management serve curry leaf powder in the mid-day meal without a miss.

The DPO said they would soon plant moringa saplings in all the government schools across the district to guide the students to consume them regularly. However, the responsibility of watering and protecting these plants would lie with the school management, she said, adding that they were also planning to conduct awareness sessions for students and their parents by roping in experts to speak on how consumption of these leaves would address deficiency of calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorous, zinc, vitamin C, and B and improve the health of students.

The plantation drive has been completed in 75 per cent of schools during the last week. The next 25 per cent will be completed during the coming week.