Maneka writes to all MPs, urges them to spread awareness on nutrition

Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi has urged all MPs to undertake outreach activities in their constituencies to spread awareness on the importance of nutrition and help in eliminating malnutrition.

The government is celebrating the national nutrition month in September and has undertaken a number of activities to spread awareness on the importance of nutrition.

"In order to mainstream this programme during September, 2018, I request you to undertake outreach activities in your constituency. Your participation in this mission will enable common citizens to associate with the objective of eliminating malnutrition," Gandhi said in a letter to all MPs.

A number of Ministries of the Central government are collaborating in the Poshan Abhiyan. The primary aim of the programme is to enable awareness on the importance of nutrition and how individual families can easily access government services to supplement nutrition for their children and pregnant/lactating mothers.

The Poshan Abhiyan programme seeks to bring convergence among various ministries to work in a coordinated manner so that malnutrition can be reduced quickly and progressively.

The key features of this programme are mobilisation of communities across the country and getting their participation in addressing various aspects of the nutritional challenges, Gandhi said.

The programme seeks to synergise efforts of key stakeholders by leveraging technology and intends to take Nutrition Awareness to the level of Jan Andolan or People's Movement.

This People's Movement intends to reach 11 crore beneficiaries during the Rashtriya Poshan Maah itself, Gandhi said in the letter.

Stakeholders across India should be encouraged to undertake activities ranging from state level workshops to nomination of brand ambassadors to multimedia Campaigns.

"The MPs and Ministers have also been requested to update accomplished activities on the Jan Andolan Dashboard. In a swift response to the letter, the Ministers and MPs have already started undertaking series of Poshan activities," Gandhi said.

The National Nutrition Month has eight key themes, namely, antenatal care, optimal breastfeeding, complementary feeding, anemia, growth monitoring, education; diet and right age of marriage for girls, hygiene and sanitation and food fortification.

All the departments of the government and other associated organisations have adopted an integrated approach towards accomplishing a target of malnutrition-free India.

Nearly 100 community radio stations are also participating in the special drive during this month, Gandhi added.