India, Nov. 13 -- The Maharashtra government has directed the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) to take responsibility for tackling malnutrition in slum areas of Mumbai, following a report which noted that more than 5,000 children in the country's financial capital are malnourished.

The SRA, one of the state government's revenue-generating agencies, has been tasked with constructing Anganwadi centers in slum areas and arrange for food and nutrition facilities for children.

A recent report by the health department identified more than 5,000 moderately malnourished children in Mumbai, particularly in slum pockets such as Govandi, Shivaji Nagar and Khar. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis last week flagged the persistence of malnutrition a...