HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, Sept 6: The district-level inauguration and convergence meeting of the ‘7th Rashtriya Poshan Maah’ was successfully conducted in the Principal Secretary’s Conference Hall of the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council, focusing on the theme ‘Suposhit Kishori, Sashakt Nari’. The event marked the official commencement of various initiatives aimed at improving nutrition and health outcomes across the district, particularly for children, adolescents, and pregnant and lactating mothers. The programme was organised by the Office of the Deputy Director, Department of Social Welfare, Dima Hasao.
The programme began with a welcome speech by Partho Jahari, secretary i/c of Social Welfare, North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC), Dima Hasao. In his address, he emphasised the importance of nutrition and sought the active participation of all stakeholders in ensuring 100 percent coverage of the scheme.
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District project manager (DPM) David Bathari moderated the session and presented an in-depth overview of the activities planned for the 7th Rashtriya Poshan Maah. Key components of the programme included regular monitoring, tracking progress, and ensuring proper nutrition through anaemia camps to be organised across the district, focusing on identifying and addressing anaemia among children, adolescents, and lactating mothers. Promoting best feeding practices for young infants to ensure their healthy development was also emphasised. An exhibition featuring local indigenous toys and other items was part of the programme.
A component of the environmental programme, ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’, a special initiative aimed at promoting environmental sustainability by planting trees in the name of mothers, was also included. Additional initiatives promoted rainwater harvesting for sustainable water management, encouraged the use of millets for improved nutritional intake, and focused on capacity building for Self Help Groups (SHGs) to empower local communities.
The programme emphasised the use of technology for better governance and tracking progress. The use of the ‘Poshan Tracker app’, mobile updates, and awareness generation through banners and posters were highlighted as essential tools for monitoring the scheme’s implementation. Bathari also informed attendees that the progress of the project could be monitored through the Jan Andolan Dashboard.
Rashtriya Poshan Maah is an annual initiative under the government of India’s Poshan Abhiyaan (National Nutrition Mission), launched in 2018. It aims to combat malnutrition in the country through a multi-ministerial convergence approach. The month-long campaign, celebrated every September, focuses on raising awareness and improving nutritional outcomes for children, pregnant and lactating mothers, and adolescents.
In his closing remarks, Bathari urged all line departments to work in close coordination for the successful implementation of the programme. He emphasised the importance of active participation and coordination from all stakeholders to effectively achieve the programme’s objectives.
The meeting was attended by Partho Jahari, secretary i/c Social Welfare, NCHAC; Dr Pavan Kumar Ganju, i/c additional chief medical officer; Rajdeep Kemprai, i/c deputy director, Social Welfare Department, NCHAC, and various other officials.
Our Tezpur correspondent adds: The 7th Rashtriya Poshan Maah 2024 was inaugurated at the Conference Hall of the District Commissioner’s Office, Sonitpur, on Friday. The program began with the ceremonial lighting of lamps by Kabita Kakati Konwar, additional district commissioner (Education), Sonitpur, and Bidyot Hazarika, district social welfare officer, Sonitpur, in the presence of department heads from Health, Agriculture, DIPRO, and AYUSH, as well as representatives from the National Health Mission, TMCH, ICDS, and various other organisations.
The district social welfare officer outlined the objectives of the event, emphasising the theme of Poshan Maah 2024: ‘Suposhit Kishori, Sashakt Nari’.The ADC (Education) urged all line departments to work together to ensure the successful implementation of activities at the district, block, and community levels.
Nabadeep Bora, District Coordinator of POSHAN, detailed the activity matrix provided by the Directorate of Women & Child Development. He highlighted key focus areas such as anaemia reduction, growth monitoring, infant and young child feeding practices, and initiatives like ‘Poshan Bhi, Padhai Bhi’, ‘Technology for Better Governance’, and the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks by the district social welfare officer, Sonitpur.
