Government making efforts to turn Poshan Abhiyan into a Jan Andolan: CM

Rashtriya Poshan Maah 2022 launched

GUWAHATI: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma launched the Rashtriya Poshan Maah 2022 under Poshan Abhiyan in a programme organized by Women & Child Development Department of the Government of Assam at Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra in Guwahati on Thursday.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Sarma said that following the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make the country free from malnutrition, the Government of Assam has been implementing a number of programmes to eradicate malnutrition and anaemia in the State. He said that a State Project Management Unit has been set up for monitoring the implementation of Poshan Abhiyan in Assam. Six services under Integrated Child Development Scheme have been monitored by this unit that have played an important role in eradicating anaemia among pregnant women and adolescent girls, underweight and malnutrition in children, Sarma said.

The Chief Minister further said that for effective implementation of ICDS services at the level of Anganwadi centres, a mobile application named Poshan Tracker has been implemented across Assam. So far 61,690 mobiles have been distributed among anganwadi workers and they have been trained at the same time. Several ICDS services have been monitored through this app, Sarma said, adding that till date 42,83,529 beneficiaries have been registered on the app.

Stating that the State Government was making all possible efforts to encourage Jan Bhagidari (public participation) to turn the Poshan Abhiyan into a Jan Andolan (mass movement), the Chief Minister said that a campaign called Poshan Panchayat would be organized across the state during Poshan Maah this year. This is aimed at generating awareness about various nutritious foods, ways to prevent anaemia, maintaining hygiene during menstruation period, which are very crucial for women during pregnancy and breastfeeding, the Chief Minister said adding that adolescent girls will be made aware about precautions to be taken during menstruation and to prevent anaemia.

Moreover, Sarma said that through an initiative called Poshan Vatika, various activities would be taken up including plantation of medicinal trees at AWCs and schools, generating awareness about yoga for good health, conducting anaemia eradication camps for adolescent girls in tea gardens. He also said that people will be made aware about locally available iron-rich food products, fruits and vegetables through cooking competitions. The Chief Minister also stressed promoting yoga among youth and urged parents and teachers to encourage them to practice yoga regularly.

Minister of Women & Chief Development Ajanta Neog highlighted various steps taken for improvement of health of children, adolescent girls, pregnant women by the department in the State.

Chairperson of Women & Child Welfare Committee of Assam Legislative Assembly, Suman Haripriya, Principal Secretary of Women & Child Development Department, Mukesh Sahoo and other dignitaries were present in the programme.

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