Pimpri: Group leaders of Sakal’s Tanishka Women’s Dignity Foundation here have demanded that the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) initiate a programme to improve the health of girl students.

The leaders suggested that students should be provided with an adequate and nutritious diet and this aspect should be given importance. For this purpose, PCMC must allocate certain funds, they said.

This year, for the first time under the National Rural Health Mission programme, health check-ups for girls from municipal and private schools were conducted from January to March, where their haemoglobin levels were checked.

It was noticed that in 40 per cent of the girls, the amount of haemoglobin was below seven grams, which is dangerously below the normal level. Speaking about this issue, group leaders under the Tanishka Women’s Dignity Foundation gave various suggestions.

Bharati Pharande, chairperson of the Women and Child Development Committee, said, “The elected representatives and administration should ensure that the girls are provided with a nutritious diet.”

Former mayor Anita Pharande said that the parents and PCMC should pay attention towards the health of these children.

Mandakini Thakare, former chairperson of PCMC B ward, said that a special proposal has been forwarded to the education department by the Women and Child Development Committee, which they have not taken note of. “The municipal commissioner should implement a time-bound programme to improve the health of students,” she said.

“Awareness among parents should also increase. The PCMC must implement health programmes at the school level,” said Vaishali Kalbhor, an elected representative.

“Nutritious meals should be provided in schools,” reiterated Bharati Nalawade, President of Mrugnayani.