The action plan for POSHAN Maah under POSHAN Abhiyaan all across the country was reviewed via video conferencing today by the Member (Health and Nutrition), Niti Aayog, Government of India, 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 level 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 and would involve multiple departments namely, 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. 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 the 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. Information on nutrition and reports of events during this month would also be posted on social media. The electronic media, print media, community radio, ‘Nukkar Natak’ would be made partners in the holistic mission of the State Government to make the message of ‘Nutritional Diet’ resound in every household across the State. Various other 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).Others who participated in the bodies conference were the Director, Social Security, Women and Child Development Gurpreet Kaur Sapra, Director General School Education Mohammad Tayyab, Special Secretary Health and Family Welfare Manvesh Singh Sidhu, Director Rural Development and Panchayats, Additional Director Information and Public Relations Department Dr. Senu Duggal, Joint Director Agriculture Parminder Singh, Additional CEO/PSRLM. J.S. Jassi, Additional Director Technical Education Department H.P. Singh, DPI (C) Dr. Indu Malhotra, ADPI (Higher Education) Dr. Amarjit Kaur, G.M. Mid Day Meal, Education Department Prabh Charan Singh, Director (Water Quality) Water Supply and Sanitation Department and Consultant Policy and Plan NHM Punjab Navdeep Gautam.