Chandigarh.7 September,2020:
Shri V.P. Singh Badnore, Governor of Punjab and Administrator of U.T. Chandigarh, launched the POSHAN Maah 2020, for UT Chandigarh online by sharing a video message,today.
POSHAN Abhiyaan “PM’s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nourishment” was formally launched by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, from Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan on 08th March 2018. Hon’ble Prime Minster had desired the Mission to be converted into a JAN ANDOLAN for effective implementation and wide reach. Since then, Poshan Maah is being celebrated with enormous zeal & enthusiasm with a number of activities in the community at grass root level. In his message, the Governor reiterated Chandigarh’s commitment to wipe out malnutrition from the city and the country and called on the people to participate in the Jan Andolan.
To maintain the momentum and to capitalize on the gains of these events, this year the third Rashtriya POSHAN Maah is going to be celebrated during the month of September, 2020in convergence with all stakeholders. Rashtriya POSHAN Maah 2020 will have two major activities to be carried out at grass root level namely:-
Identification and tracking of children with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM)
Plantation drives for promotion of Kitchen gardens.
Shri Manoj Kumar Parida IAS, Advisor to the Administrator, U.T. Chandigarh, along with Shri Yash Pal Garg, IAS Secretary Social Welfare, UT Chandigarh, and Smt. Navjot Kaur, PCS Director, Department of Social Welfare Women and Child Development, Chandigarh, launched the Information Education and Communication (IEC) material on Suposhan Diwas, Growth Monitoring, Complementary Feeding for Anganwadi Centers, which will be circulated for raising awareness on health and nutrition. On the same event, the officers also launched the “Poshan Sanhita”. Poshan Sanhita, a voluntary model code on nutrition, is a set of 10 simple and easy to follow principles for ensuring holistic nutrition of the self and the family. By committing to observe these principles, citizens can plead their support and full-fledgedly participate in the Poshan Maah Jan Andolan from the safety and comfort of their homes.
Due to COVID-19 pandemic, Rashtriya POSHAN Maah, 2020 was repositioned from conventional to digital mode of Jan Andolan, wherever required. For conducting Rashtriya POSHAN Maah, 2020, successfully, the Department of Social Welfare of Women & Child Development shall play a vital role as per the guidelines of the Government of India, in convergence with all the line Departments, i.e. Department of Health & Family Welfare, Department of Education, Municipal Corporation, and Department of Public Health.
In the ensuing days, a gamut of activities have been planned to push for the cause of holistic nutrition, such as launch of CBE Pamphlets and Incremental Learning Approach Takeaways Booklet, identification and tracking of Children with Severe to Acute Malnutrition (SAM) children development of Kitchen Gardens in Anganwadi Centre and launch of Low-Cost Recipe Booklet during the POSHAN Maah, 2020. Various Webinars shall be organised on the topics like Nutrition Rich Food, Anaemia, Diarrhoea and Prevention of Malnutrition. Digital Poshan Panchayat/Ward Meeting, Online Ward Sabha, Prabhat Pheri, POSHAN Walk will also be organised along with Self-help Groups.
Various online competitions and other social media activities such as Panel Discussions, Press Conference involving Doordarshan, All India Radio etc., shall be organized regularly for the whole month to increase awareness among the citizenry, whilst keeping their safety in track.
This POSHAN Maah will be organized with full devotion and spirit with precautionary measures against COVID-19. Series of activities are undertaken in the Anganwadi Centres to sensitize the citizens, enhance their participation and to associate them with the objective of eliminating malnutrition.