Birgunj, May 10

The multi-regional nutrition programme, funded by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Nepal, has yet to come into operation in Bara district.

The programme could not be launched in the district as UNICEF Nepal has yet to dispatch the budget it had allocated for the programme.

Information officer of United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Nepal Shambhu Kushwaha said the amount was not dispatched as security departments of the district had failed to submit the bills after buying materials for disaster management with the budget that UNICEF had allocated earlier.

He said the four security departments of the district had informed that they would provide the bills within a week.

United Nations Children’s Fund Nepal had signed an agreement with the National Planning Commission to provide an assistance of Rs 10 million to operate

the multi-regional nutrition programme in the district.

Of the total pledged amount, as many as Rs 1.7 million each is meant for Woman and Children Office, District Livestock Office, Agriculture Development Office and Drinking Water and Sanitation Division Office, Kushwaha said.

The remaining amount is meant to be spent by the District Coordination Committee on various public awareness programmes against malnutrition.