Apex level Concluding ceremony of Poshan Maah held in B’pora

Srinagar: The Mission Director ICDS J&K in collaboration with District Administration Bandipora on Friday organised the UT level concluding ceremony of Poshan Maah here Friday.
The programme was aimed to create awareness about importance of balanced diet to children, besides taking measures to ensure 100 percent nutrition coverage under the project.
Secretary Social Welfare Department, Sheetal Nanda was the chief guest on the occasion while Deputy Commissioner Bandipora, Dr Owais Ahmad; Mission Director ICDS, Rubina Kouser; SSP Mohammad Zahid; Additional Deputy Commissioner Zahoor Ahmad Mir; Joint Director Planning Imtiyaz Ahmad, District Programme Officers ICDS of Kashmir Division, Project Officers of all blocks of the district, anganwari workers, supervisors and other senior officers were present on the occasion.
The event marked the end of the month-long activities under the Prime Minister’s outreach programme of POSHAN Abhiyaan in all the districts of Jammu and Kashmir during the month of September.
Speaking on the occasion, Sheetal Nanda appreciated the efforts of the field level workers including anganwari workers and supervisors who ensured the implementation of schemes on the ground.
Nanda spoke about eradicating malnutrition and highlighted the achievements of the sector besides informing about future plans and targets. She stressed on proper water supply arrangements to all AWCs.
She said during the month the ICDS department worked tirelessly in a mission mode to identify malnourished children and provided them with adequate nutrition and healthcare for bringing them to mainstream in terms of healthy nutritional status. She said that convergence among departments especially Health and Education departments is the key to tackle the menace of malnutrition among children.
The Secretary emphasized for improving nutritional outcomes for children, adolescent girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers. She also asked for creating micronutrient environments in every village.
For this, Poshan vatikas have been set up in Anganwadi Centres, panchayat areas, vacant lands in villages where benefits can easily be given to women and children.
Deputy Commissioner Bandipora on the occasion highlighted major themes of Poshan Maah 2021, including plantation activity at poshan vatikas, yoga and ayush for nutrition, distribution of regional nutrition kits and identification of SAM children and community kitchen for SAM children.
He further highlighted the need to increase nutritional awareness and responsiveness among all stakeholders about vital nutrition behaviours. He also recounted the journey of ICDS department during four years of poshan abhiyan.
Mission Director ICDS Rubina Kouser while speaking on the occasion said during month long activities for the POSHAN Maah this year, broadly focused on plantation drive for POSHAN VATIKA, sensitization drive for COVID vaccination and observance of COVID protocols, special drive for Height and Weight Measurement for Children (under 6 years of age), slogan writing and recipe competitions.
Also, there were live sessions on “5-minute Yoga Protocol” (Y-break or yoga break) at various workplaces for the employees of government and corporate bodies, awareness campaign on importance of regional foods, block wise identification of SAM Children, Supervised Supplementary Feeding Program for SAM children and sensitisation for community management of acute malnutrition and distribution of nutritious food for SAM children.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Zahoor Ahmad Mir who is holding additional charge of District Programme Officer ICDS Bandipora highlighted the achievement of the ICDS department in district.
He said there are 806 Aanganwari Centres in four ICDS projects in the district. He said 26170 beneficiaries were enrolled for the current financial year.
He said 7770 beneficiaries have been covered under PMMVY scheme and Rs 2.95 Cr has been disbursed till date. He said during the month 1066 activities were conducted during Poshan Maah and more than two lakh persons participated in the event.