The project, introduced by the State Education Ministry and supported by UNICEF, will be monitored by the faculties of Foods and Nutrition Department, M S University and Baroda Medical College.

A recent project by the Department of Foods and Nutrition found that in Bharuch 60 per cent school children from slums were found anaemic, HoD Subadra Seshadri said. ``By giving them iron tablets we could bring down the number of anaemic children to 40 per cent,'' she said.

In Vadodara also the percentage of anaemic students was almost similar. Seshadri said in the beginning iron tablets would be given once a week to municipal school children between the age group of 10 and 18 years. She said even if the percentage of anaemia among girls can be reduced, it will make a big difference as they are prospective mothers.

Sarina Campbell and Sunetra Budhwarkar, research officers in the department, said women face problem in delivery if they are anaemic during pregnancy. ``Even after deliver, her condition becomes bad as she has already drained out whatever she has to the fetus,'' they said.

All-India figures put 70 per cent pregnant women from slums as anaemic.

About the project in Municipal Schools, Seshadri said teachers will undergo training to ensure that the tablet is consumed by the the girl students. She said the project would be extended to other municipal schools across the State depending on the results.

According to Campbell and Budhwarkar, iron tablets is a short-term measure and the dietary habits of these children from socio-economically backward strata need to be changed. They said a slight change in the eating habits and selection of food can make the difference. ``We have prepared educational material about dietary habits,'' they said, adding that children can play an important role in convincing their parents to change the family diet.

Sheshadri said the government is aware of the lacunae in distribution of iron tablets and has changed packaging of the tablets. The professor agred that on many occasions the tablets do not reach the beneficiaries as health workers may not be delivering it properly.