Advisor to Governor, Khurshid Ahmad Ganai today called for active participation of the people in National Nutrition Week and Matru Vandana Saptha aimed at creating mass awareness about requirement of proper nutrition for better child health.He said the main purpose to celebrate Nutrition Week is to raise awareness about the importance of nutrition for health which has an overall impact on development, productivity, economic growth. Similarly, the theme of celebration of Matru Vandana Saptah is to ensure proper nutrition for pregnant women, regular ante-natal checkups, institutional delivery and immunization for infants, he said.He said J&K’s Social Welfare Department is observing the National Nutrition Week (NNW) under “POSHAN Abhiyaan” (National Nutrition Mission) and Matru Vandana Saptha under “Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojna” (PMMVY).The Advisor said to begin with three blocks in J&K, Gool in district Ramban, and Mahore and Arnas in district Reasi have been covered under the scheme. He said from the current year the scheme has been extended to eight more districts namely Budgam, Baramulla, Kargil, Kupwara, Rajouri, Doda, Kathua, and Ramban while other districts will be covered next year.
Pertinently, National Nutrition week 2018 starts from the 1 September and lasts up to the 7 September. The National Nutrition Week is observed to celebrate nutrition and healthy eating.POSHAN Abiyaan aims at reducing mal-nourishment in the country by adopting a synergized and result oriented approach, to achieve improvement in nutritional status of children from 0-6 years, pregnant and lactating mothers in a time bound manner with fixed targets during three years beginning 2017-18.Matru Vandana Saptha is being observed under Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), a Maternity Benefit Programme that is to be implemented across the country in accordance with the provision of the National Food Security Act, 2013.