R I G H T TO H E A LT H rural areas of the country, Reproductive Child Health (RCH) camps are being organized in 1020 Public Health Centres in 17 States; this would be done once in every two months in these Public Health Centres. ● Nutrition education was undertaken through the Information, Education and Communication (IEC) programme in order to promote the regular intake of iron rich foods by all age groups, the consumption of foods that increase the absorption of iron, (like Vitamin C rich foods), the avoidance of items like tea/coffee which inhibit absorption, and the growing of iron rich fruits and vegetables in home garden. Information and education on a wide range of women's health issues, including anaemia was provided through grass-root level schemes funded by the Ministry, such as the Mahila Swasthya Sangh Scheme, the ZSS-IEC scheme and through the wide network of concerned NGOs and self help groups. 6.10 The Department of the Indian System of Medicine and Homeopathy, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has indicated that it has taken up a Pilot Project jointly with the Department of Family Welfare for the mainstreaming of Ayurveda/Siddha approaches in the National RCH Programme at the Primary/Health Care level. The Government has also released grants for the first preparatory phase of a 30-month operational research programme in 10 PHCs/Districts in five States, viz., Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka. The Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha (CCRAS) and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) have drafted a project report, training module for service providers, handbook for service providers and IEC material. Suitable interventions from Ayurveda/ Siddha have been developed for ante-natal, post natal, and neo-natal care, and also for common ailments faced by the new born and by children. The report states that maternal anaemia is being treated as part of ante-natal care and that attention was being paid both to preventive and curative aspects of anaemia. 6.11 The Workshop had laid particular stress on the need for a literacy campaign to bring about awareness amongst women concerning maternal anaemia. Four recommendations pertaining to education and awareness in respect of maternal anaemia, were thus sent to the Department of Elementary Education & Literacy, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India for the taking of appropriate action. The report of that Department was awaited. ANNUAL REPORT 2002-2003 ... ... 85 ... ... ..