Sources said the civic body is expecting a letter from the WHO by the end of this week. The MCD had recently roped in Fortis and SRL Ranbaxy for its anaemia control programme. MCD Health Committee Chairman Dr V K Monga told Newsline that the agency had a meeting with Dr Rajesh Mehta, nutritional consultant with the WHO, recently in which it was decided that the nutrition department of the WHO would provide technical support to MCD.

“They would be part of our monthly review meetings and would also provide inputs on how other countries took steps to combat anaemia,” Monga said. “They will also provide information, education and communication material aimed at making people and the system aware of how anaemia can be combated. In case of any flaws in our programme, they will help us overcome them through NGOs registered with them,” he said. He added that the MCD has also been assured financial assistance, but this would be routed through the Delhi government.

Mayor Arti Mehra had recently cited a survey that said the number of anaemic children in MCD schools stand at 80 per cent of the nine lakh children studying in these schools.

‘Provide women’s common room in every zonal office’
The Standing Committee of the MCD has instructed MCD Commissioner Ashok Nigam to make provisions for a common room for women in every zonal office of the MCD. These common rooms would have facilities like toilets for women.

The issue came up when BJP Councillor Meera Aggarwal made a set of demands for women before the Committee during the budget discussion. She demanded that a five-member committee, comprising two councillors, two senior officials and a Delhi Police officer of DCP rank posted in the department looking into crimes against women, be constituted to look into the increasing cases of crimes against women. She also demanded that the Women's Commission have a Councillor from the MCD.