Social Security, Women & Child Development Minister, Punjab Aruna Chaudhary on Thursday said that the Punjab government has taken various new initiatives to bolster the Department of Social Security, Women & Child Development so that maximum beneficiaries at grass-root level can take advantage of a myriad of government welfare schemes in the state.Ms Chaudhary, while disclosing this during a state-level workshop under the mission 'Poshan Abhiyaan’, said that the fourth 'Poshan Maah' is being celebrated from September 1 to September 30 across the state and programs are being organised at various places.Speaking on the occasion, the minister informed that a large number of recruitments have been done in the department and at the same time promotions were also given to the eligible officers/staff by the Punjab government.“This department is directly linked to the welfare of people and it is a privilege for us that we are serving the people of Punjab,” she said.She directed the department officials to complete all the ongoing projects in the coming three months. She also praised the efforts of all employees, especially Anganwadi workers for their dogged determination and helping the people after putting their lives at risk during the unprecedented times of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The minister exhorted Anganwadi workers to pay special attention to pregnant women, lactating mothers and malnourished children.On the occasion, Principal Secretary Raji P Shrivastava said that the department's 'Poshan Abhiyaan’ has been proving successful and yielding positive results. She urged Anganwadi workers to pay extra attention to planting of fruit trees as well as medicinal trees in the Anganwadi Centers. She said that these trees can be planted on the common lands near the Anganwadi Centers so that the local people could also take benefit from it.She directed department officials to create maximum awareness about the department’s welfare works among people.Meanwhile, the best performing districts were also honoured for their superlative works during the event.In the best performing category, Rupnagar district clinched the first rank, followed by Hoshiarpur district while Jalandhar remained on third and Fazilka bagged fourth rank.Similarly, for excellent activities during mission 'Poshan Abhiyaan', Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar came first, Ferozepur second, Rupnagar third, Muktsar district fourth and Jalandhar stood in the fifth position. Whereas, under the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar came first, Mansa second, Barnala third, Faridkot fourth and Pathankot fifth.Director Social Security, Women & Child Development Vipul Ujjwal and Joint Director Vimmi Bhullar among others were present during the event.