Agriculture Minister and Mandya district in-charge Minister N. Cheluvarayaswamy on Wednesday said the State government has implemented the Shishu Sanjeevini scheme with the objective of protecting child health and reducing infant mortality. He said several initiatives have been introduced over the past three years to strengthen public healthcare services across the State.

He was speaking after inaugurating a newly established Midwifery-led Care Unit and Human Milk Bank — collectively named the Shishu Sanjeevini Unit — at the Mandya district hospital. The facility has been set up jointly by the district administration, Zilla Panchayat, Mandya Institute of Medical Sciences (MIMS), and the Department of Health and Family Welfare.

On the government’s focus on maternal and child healthcare, Mr. Cheluvarayaswamy said the scheme would particularly benefit premature babies and children suffering from malnutrition. Stressing the importance of breastfeeding, he said mothers must be educated about its long-term health benefits for infants.

The Minister appreciated the efforts of the district administration, Zilla Panchayat and Health Department in establishing the Human Milk Bank and described the initiative as a significant step towards improving neonatal care in the district.

Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer K.R. Nandini said maternal and infant health indicators are closely linked to the overall economic progress of society. She noted that expert review meetings lasting over an hour are conducted for every reported maternal and infant death in the district to identify gaps and improve healthcare delivery.

Describing breast milk as the “best gift” for a child, Ms. Nandini said the Shishu Sanjeevini scheme had been introduced to prevent maternal and infant deaths. She also acknowledged the support extended by legislators in establishing the Midwifery-led Care Unit and Human Milk Bank.

Mandya MLA Ravikumar, Deputy Commissioner Dr. Kumar, MIMS Director Narasimhaswamy and MUDA Chairman Prakash were present.