Imphal: Social Welfare Minister Okram Henry Singh launched POSHAN Pakhwada, 2021 Tuesday in his office chamber in the presence of Commissioner (Social Welfare), Government of Manipur, Deputy Secretary (Social Welfare), Government of Manipur, State Nodal Officer/POSHAN Abhiyaan, Manipur, Deputy Director/ICDS, State Programme Officer/ICDS, Special Officer/Supplementary Nutrition Programme, ICDS and other officials of Social Welfare Department.
He appealed to all the stakeholders to extend full cooperation to the Department of Social Welfare Department in the successful conduct of the fortnight-long POSHAN Pakhwada, 2021.
Continuing the thrust of “POSHAN Abhiyaan” a flagship programme launched on March 8, 2018, by the Prime Minister of India for improving the nutritional status of children, pregnant women and lactating mothers, POSHANPakhwada will be celebrated this year from March 16- 31.
The key focus areas for Poshan Pakhwada 2021 would be distribution of 4 saplings of nutrition rich plants per AWC in the Aspirational Districts, under the supervision of local panchayat and DM/DC by NMPB, MoAYUSH and awareness, sensitization at village panchayat level by National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB).
The celebration would also include organising POSHAN Panchayat involving members of PRIs for generating awareness on topics like malnutrition prevalence and its consequences, POSHANVatika, food forestry, identification of SAM/MAM children and its management
Ministry of Women & Child Development will be the nodal ministry for coordinating activities during the POSHAN Pakhwada. Department of Social Welfare, Government of Manipur will be the nodal department in the State. Other line departments like Health& Family Welfare, AYUSH, YAS, RD&PR, Forest, Agriculture, Education, Horticulture, CAF & PD, IPR, TA&Hills, MOBC, District Administration, etc are the major stakeholders. Various activities like POSHAN Vatika (Tree Plantation), Kitchen Gardening and Medicinal plant plantation, POSHAN melas, rallies, awareness at schools/panchayats/communities, home visit, webinars etc. will be taken during the fortnight-long event.
