HT Correspondent
Resubelpara, Sept 2: North Garo Hills’ deputy commissioner, R P Marak on Friday launched the Poshan Maah, a programme to improve nutritional outcomes of children less than six years of age, adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating mothers at Berubari AWC, Bajengdoba in Resubelpara.
Speaking during the programme as the chief guest, RP Marak lauded the initiatives of the Government in its aims to uplift the economic condition of the people through various welfare programmes. The focus of Poshan Maah was to improve the overall nutrition status of both children and women with the objective to spread the awareness of nutrition to every household in all the villages within the district, he said.
“For the people to be able to afford nutritious food their socio-economic condition has to be enhanced and therefore government’s programmes is embedded in improving the wellbeing of the people”, Marak added.
Citing example of FOCUS +, an expansion of Government’s flagship initiative FOCUS programme, he said that the initiative of providing financial support to members of the producers group will transform the livelihood of the people.
He therefore exhorted the gathering to enroll under such programme and avail the benefits being provided to them. The significance of Aadhaar enrollment in order to facilitate Government’s assistance to the people was also highlighted.
RP Marak while stressing on the theme ‘Triggering POSHAN Panchayats for Poshan Maah’ which aims at involving village leaders as the central role in bringing more beneficiaries under the programme, he urged upon the gathering to form village level standing committees viz; village health councils, village health sanitation & nutrition committee and village employment councils in order to reach the target approach against malnutrition.
The month long programme from 1st to 30th September will center under key themes of Mahila & Swasthya, Bacha & Shiksha, Gender sensitive, water conservation and management and traditional food for women and children.
Highlights of the programme were health screening of women and children, Nutri kit and vegetable seeds distribution to Anganwadi workers, and fruits bearing trees were also planted in the premise of the venue.
The programme was being organised by the office of district programme officer ICDS (CELL), North Garo Hills.
Others who spoke during the programme were assistant director, Medical office, Dr. Debnath and S A Sangma, DPO, ICDS (Cell) William Nagar.
