Chandigarh, August 31: The action plan for POSHAN Maah under national POSHAN Abhiyaan was reviewed via video conferencing today by the Member (Health and Nutrition), Niti Aayog, Dr. Vinod Kumar Paul and the Secretary, Union Ministry of Women and Child Development Mr. Rabindra Panwar.
During the video conference, emphasis was laid on providing nutritional food to pregnant women, lactating mothers, adolescent girls and children. Another significant aspect of focus was the mass movement to be undertaken at the State, District and Block levels so as to ensure the health and well-being of women and children.
Elaborating on the action plan of the Punjab Government, the Principal Secretary, Social Security, Women and Child Development, Raji P. Shrivastava said that ‘POSHAN Maah’ would be observed throughout the month of September.
Multiple departments like Social Security, Women and Child Development, Agriculture, Sports and Youth Affairs, Health and Family Welfare, Rural Development and Panchayats, Higher Education Housing and Urban Development, Information and Public Relations, Water Supply and Sanitation and Skill Development will be involved in the drive.
One of the key initiatives to be undertaken during this month is ‘POSHAN Bhagidari’, the essence of which would be to encourage the community to participate in activities organized at Anganwadi Centres on a particular day.
Besides, special camps on health check-up for pregnant women, Anaemia Control and Growth Monitoring would be held at the anganwadi centres to promote the effective delivery of health and nutrition services.
The Principal Secretary said that field functionaries have been told the popularize the ‘POSHAN Maah’ through mass-media.
Various activities under ‘Poshan par Charcha’ initiative would also be undertaken … such as debates, panel discussions, sports, art competitions in the educational institutions of Punjab.
Further, under the ‘POSHAN Choupal’, the discussions centred around health and nutrition related subjects would be held in all villages with the active involvement of Self-Help Groups, Agriculture Cooperatives, Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA), Auxiliary Nurses & Midwives (ANM) and Anganwadi Workers (AWW).
