MYSURU: Conceived as a flagship initiative to help ensure pregnant and lactating mothers received sufficient nutrition, Mathrupoorna scheme was launched by the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government in October 2017. However, the scheme appears to have been hobbled by age-old stigmas and belief, with few women of the district appearing keen on reaping the benefits of the initiative. The stigma associated with pregnant women stepping out of the home for food, and caste of the workers at the Anganwadis, where nutritious food is served, have proven to be deterrents.Mysuru taluk secretary of the Anganwadi Workers' Association Y Mahadevamma blamed the lackluster response in the district to superstitions, and caste-related prejudices. "While husbands and in-laws prevent pregnant women and new mothers from venturing out of the house, caste-based stigma also plays a role. People of the upper castes are reluctant to allow women of their household to eat food prepared by Dalit anganwadi workers," said Mahadevamma, expressing helplessness over their failure to convince the people to avail of the benefits of the scheme.Echoing Mahadevamma's concerns, Asha worker Mangalamma told STOI, "Before the launch of Mathrupoorna scheme, monthly rations were given directly to the beneficiaries. This was more effective than the current system, wherein they are given cooked food."Mangalamma pointed out that, besides the reluctance on the part of the husband and the in-laws, there was the added stigma of neighbours speaking unkindly about heading to anganwadi centres for food.Workers said that, at some anganwadi centres, only two of the 14 women who enrolled for the Mathrupoorna scheme turned up to avail of its benefits.Confirming the observations of the two grassroots workers, deputy director of the women and child welfare department, Mysuru K Radha said that societal perception had hampered the implementation of the scheme. "Besides looking at the case of anganwadi workers, people are also worried about what other people think. They are afraid of being belittled by neighbours if they are seen having food at these centres," Radha told STOI.She added that women were wary of eating eggs provided under the scheme based on a superstition that they were bad for the baby. "There is the question of the husband's ego involved here, because he is afraid the people might think he is incapable of providing for his wife if she goes to an anganwadi for food," Radha said.Deputy director of the women and child welfare department, Mandya K Diwakar said that enrolment had witnessed a gradual growth in his district. Diwakar, who served in Mysuru earlier, said, "The scheme has recorded an implementation rate of 68% in Mandya. Women from upper caste communities do not prefer to eat at the anganwadi centres." (Shivendra Urs)

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