The 5th Rashtriya Poshan Maah- 2022 was celebrated on the theme 'Healthy Child Competition' on Wednesday at Ima Laikhurembi Mandop, Khurai, Imphal East which was organised by Social Welfare Department, government of Manipur in association with ICDS project Imphal East-1, Sawombung.
Joint director of social welfare department, Bantee Konthoujam, spoke about the launch of Rashtriya Poshan Maah in 2018 and its focus on the nutrition aspects among children and usefulness of locally available vegetables. He said that Poshan Maah also focuses on children's nutrition for proper growth and development. Rashtriya Poshan Maah is being celebrated as National Nutrition Month in the month of September with the aim to address the challenge of malnutrition and make efforts towards good nutrition for women and children, he said.
It may be noted that Poshan Maah is being celebrated as part of the POSHAN Abhiyaan, the Central Government’s flagship programme which aims to improve nutritional outcomes for children under 6 years of age, pregnant women and lactating mothers. Scheme for Holistic Nutrition- POSHAN Abhiyaan is government’s flagship programme to improve nutritional outcomes for children under six years, adolescent Girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the programme from Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan on March 8, 2018. Focusing on the aims of POSHAN Abhiyaan, the government has launched Mission Poshan 2.0 as an integrated nutrition support program, Bantee Konthoujam informed.
Minister of public health and engineer and consumer affairs, food and public distribution, Manipur, Leishangthem Susindro Meitei appreciated the initiatives taken up for future generation health and wealth being.
Briefing about the transportation of nutritional rice issues by the transport contractor, he appealed to all transport contractors to be honest in the interest of children.
“Anganwadi centres are opened in individual houses, it should be changed in the proper place”, Susindro said.
In connection with the war on drugs, Minister Susindro said that under the leadership of the chief minister the state, along with different stakeholders, is taking action against drugs and that people from every corner of the state should help fight against the issue.
“Don’t come for releasing your near and dear ones who have been arrested in connection with drug”, Susindro said.
He also said that liver problems are becoming high as alcoholic issues are rising and many liver patients are getting treatment under health cards. But the chief minister's health card may fail one day, he warned.
In Manipur, alcohol is contaminated with mosquito coil, surf and cement and sometimes spirits that affect health and liver. So, it is better to produce alcohol under rules and regulations with a licence to prevent contamination, he added.
The programme was attended by deputy commissioner Imphal East, Diana Khumanthem and Anganwadi workers and helpers.
During the programme, a stall of Aadhaar enrolment, PMMVY enrolment, Poshan Mela, complementary feeding demonstration menstrual hygiene were held and distributed deworming tablets and ORS.
A healthy child competition was also held in connection with Poshan Maah.
