Bishnupur: As part of the month long observation of Rashtriya Poshan Maah 2021, Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Zubin Irani led a plantation of medicinal plants and fruit bearing saplings at District Panchayat Resource Centre in Bishnupur on Sunday. The Union Minister also launched Anaemia Screening Camp before flagging off a POSHAN cycle rally from DC Bishnupur Office Complex. Anganwadi workers and anganwadi helpers participated in the cycle rally.
Delivering a keynote address on the occasion, Smriti Zubin Irani said that nutrition is a concern not only for a mother or a doctor but for the economy and community as a whole. Reiterating that the objective of Poshan Maah is to highlight that the first two years of a child’s life is crucial, she said that we can be a strong and prosperous nation only when all women and children are totally nourished and healthy.
Strong community is only possible if we can fight malnourishment together as citizens. Expressing gratitude that Bishnupur has stepped up Poshan initiatives, she opined that the challenges on malnutrition can be fought effectively through dedicated efforts from Anganwadi workers and helpers. Lauding the contributions of COVID warriors of Bishnupur, Smriti Zubin Irani remarked that Anganwadi workers and helpers as no less than a warrior as they provide services at the doorsteps to young children, pregnant and lactating mothers even in the face of Covid pandemic.
Later, Union Minister Smriti Zubin Irani flagged off Poshan Walk at INA Memorial in Moirang to spread awareness on the nutritional needs for children, pregnant women, lactating mothers. She also paid floral tribute to the statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
While interacting with Anganwadi workers and helpers at INA Moirang, the Union Minister announced that all Anganwadi workers in the State will be provided with a smartphone as growth monitoring device within three weeks from now. Expressing that the Ministry of Child and Women Development is committed in supporting all Anganwadi workers in the country, the Union Minister assured Anganwadis that they will no longer be overburdened with extra workloads as they are given an honorarium only.
Dignitaries who attended today’s twin events include Rajya Sabha MP Maharaja Sanajaoba Leishemba, Oinam MLA L. Radhakishore, Moirang MLA P. Sharatchandra, Indevar Pandey, Secretary of Women and Child Development, Government of India, N. Geoffrey, Secretary of Social Welfare, Ngangom Uttam Director, Social welfare, DC Bishnupur Krishna Kumar and other officials.
(DIPR)