National level Orientation workshop for celebrating the month of September as Rashtriya Poshan Maah (National Nutrition Month) held in New Delhi
Celebrating Poshan Maah will give an early thrust to Poshan Abhiyan: Maneka Sanjay Gandhi
by Kanishka Singh
New Delhi, Aug 25, 2018, After the nationwide success of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao programme, Prime Minister Narendra Modi led NDA Government is giving special thrust on the National Nutrition Mission. Smt. Maneka Sanjay Gandhi, Minister for Women and Child Development has instructed all concerned officials to synergise all efforts by leveraging technology and intends to take nutrition awareness to the level of Jan Andolan or People’s Movement.
The Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India recently organized an orientation workshop for various stakeholders participating in the Poshan Maah (National Nutrition Month) being celebrated in the month of September. The workshop was held in New Delhi today. It was addressed by Smt. Maneka Sanjay Gandhi, Minister for Women and Child Development; Dr. Rajiv Kumar, Vice-Chairman NITI Aayog; Shri Rakesh Srivastava, Secretary WCD; Dr. Vinod K Paul, Member, NITI Aayog and officers of partner ministries as well as other organizations including UN.
Addressing the workshop, the WCD Minister, Smt Maneka Sanjay Gandhi said that there can be a complete turnaround in the area of malnutrition if the Poshan Mission is taken up on war footing as was the case in the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao programme. Celebrating the Poshan Maah in the form of a drive will give an early thrust to the Poshan Abhiyan, Smt Maneka Gandhi explained. It is for the first time in 40 years that a proper monitoring of the ICDS system has started, she said. She urged the District Magistrates to identify fake beneficiaries under the ICDS programme as fast as possible. This will help to save money which can then be used for improving the quality of food, the Minister explained. It is now time to clearly decide the quality of food, the delivery mechanism and outline the responsibilities of aganwadi workers to make the system completely efficient so that it brings ultimate benefit to the children being covered under the ICDS scheme, the WCD Minister added.
Addressing the workshop, V.K Paul, member, NITI aayog, said that “Fighting malnutrion should be the number one priority for all and convergent efforts is the need of the hour.”
Speaking at the event, Mr. Rakesh Srivastava, Secretary WCD, said that “convergent efforts from various stakeholders can help achieve a Malnutrition free India”.
The Workshop focused on sensitizing the line Ministries, States/UTs and District level functionaries and partners on various aspects of Rashtriya Poshan Maah (National Nutrition Month) being celebrated during the month of September across the Country as part of Jan Andolan under POSHAN Abhiyaan. Secretaries/representatives of the line Departments and Secretaries/ representatives of State Government and District Collectors/District Magistrates/DPO/DSWO of Aspirational Districts and highly burdened districts also participated. Station managers of 42 community radio stations from across the country also took part in the workshop.
The presentations by the line ministries listed activities that will be carried out by all the concerned Ministries, States/UTs up to the grass root level by involving all the field functionaries of the respective Departments during September 2018. The primary objective of the celebration of Poshan Maah is to take the messages of POSHAN to the grass root level.
‘Poshan pledge’ was administered to all the participants by Dr. Rajiv Kumar, Vice-Chairman, NITI aayog. The various line ministries supporting the initiative gave detailed presentations on their action plan to make India Malnutrition free. Dashboard on poshan Mission was unveiled for monitoring progress.