TURA: West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner on Friday launched the Rashtriya Poshan Maah (Nutrition Month) at Bhaitbari Higher Secondary School, New Bhaitbari as part of the statewide launching of Poshan Abhiyan, National Nutrition Mission.
West Garo Hills Superintendent of Police, Dr M G R Kumar, officials of line department, teachers and students were present at the function organised by the District Programme Officer, ICDS Cell, Tura in collaboration with various line departments. The month of September which has been marked as the Nutrition Month will be celebrated with different activities at different levels, districts, blocks and villages at Anganwadi Centres.
It may be mentioned that Poshan Abhiyan was launched by the Government of India on March 8 this year with the objective to boost nutrition among children and women. Poshan Abhiyan is a flagship programme of the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD), Government of India which ensures convergence with various programmes i.e., Anganwadi Services, scheme for Adolescence Girls, National Health Mission among others.
Speaking on the occasion, Singh said that ‘Poshan’ stands for Prime Minister’s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nutrition and it aims to ensure holistic development and adequate nutrition for pregnant women, mothers and children while it targets to reduce level of under-nutrition and other related problems by ensuring convergence of various nutrition related schemes. The Poshan Abhiyan targets to reduce stunting, under-nutrition, low birth weight by 2% and anaemia among young children, women and adolescent girls by 3 per cent per annum.
The Poshan Pledge for holistic nutrition among children and women was also administered by the Deputy Commissioner during the launching.