The novel initiative of ‘Poshan Maah’ was today reviewed through video conferencing by the Secretary, Union Ministry of Women and Child Development, Mr. Rabindra Panwar. The national level video conference saw the participation of all states and Union territories and line departments. The Principal Secretary, Social Security, Women and Child Development, Punjab, Mrs. Raji P. Shrivastava shared details of the activities under the ‘Poshan Maah’ being carried out with vigour throughout Punjab in convergence with 10 stakeholder departments. She said that the grassroots staff of the Women and Child Development Department like Anganwari workers and supervisorsv and CDPOs are working in tandem with NGOs, ASHA Workers, ANMs, Agricultural Societies, Cooperative Societies, Self Help Groups, youth clubs etc. round the clock to turn it into a people’s movement.The Principal Secretary also said that the initiative began in the state on 1st September and as part of the strategy to raise awareness and win the war against malnutrition, anaemia, diarrhea etc., a State Level workshop was also held to bring about sensitisation and build the capacity of field functionaries. Mrs. Raji P. Shrivastava also added that main focus of the campaign is on raising awareness of good nutrition and better health throughout our cities, villages, slums and border areas. Dozens vof community based events and public programmes like prabhat pheries, rallies and panchayat meetings (POSHAN chaupals) are also being organized. An innovative home based programme is being run to screen people for nutritional deficiencies and promote awareness of healthy food habits.
The next week would see greater focus on panchayat meetings as well as spreading awareness on anaemia and better hygeine. The Principal Secretary also said that the campaign has infants, pregnant mothers, lactating mothers and adolescent girls under constant focus and aims to educate them about the significance of a healthy and nutritious diet coupled with exercise and community based environmental improvement efforts.The Principal Secretary added that the 10 converging departments - Social Security, Women and Child Development, Skill Development, Rural Development and Panchayats, Housing and Urban Development, Sports and Youth Affairs, School Education, Agriculture, Health and Family Welfare, Water Supply & Sanitation and Information and Public Relations have picked up the gauntlet and raised the month-long campaign to a greater level using the services of their field staff. The anganwadi centres are seeing special camps being held where guidance is being imparted regarding growth and development of children besides check ups to detect and prevent anaemia. Imaginative methods like art, music, dance, theatre, quizzes, poetry, puppetry, farmers' haat, live cooking shows and the like are being employed in all these events. Cycle rallies, POSHAN Jaago, wall paintings, specially-penned lyrics and community celebration of Gode-bharaii (baby shower) and Annprashan (baby's first solid feed) have kept the health and well-being of mother and baby centrestage.The Principal Secretary further stated that school-based events like group discussions, declamation contests, sports competitions, yoga, drawing competitions and the like have generated much excitement among young people. Mainstream media and social media apart from community radio and nukkar nataks (street theatre) are also proving to be a boon in sensitizing people about the menace of junk food, the advantages of healthy eating, the benefits of kitchen gardens, the need for cleanliness and better hygeine and building a community connect themed on nutrition. Mr Kumar Rahul, MD NHM; Dr Bhardwaj, Director Health Services; Mrs Simarjot Kaur, Addnl Director Food and officers from the Departments of School Education, Local Government, Sports and Youth Affairs and Water Supply and Sanitation participated in the event and gave key inputs.