WB adopted most elements of Poshan Abhiyan: Irani

Union minister Smriti Irani on Monday said though West Bengal does not get involved in any central government programme, it has adopted most elements of the Poshan Abhiyan.

"They have adopted most of the Poshan Abhiyan elements. They would not like to declare it and I am fine with it as long as we get the job done (implementation of Poshan Abhiyan)," she said.

'Poshan Abhiyan' is a Central government programme launched with the aim of reducing the levels of stunting, undernutrition, anaemia and low birth weight in children. It aims to achieve reduction in stunting from 38.4 per cent, as per a National Family Health Survey of 2015-16, to 25 per cent by 2022.

Irani said she has been meeting chief ministers of different states to look into the implementation of the scheme.

"We ask the states to get on board. We tell the states that it is not about politics but lives of women and children who are not political tools," she said.

"West Bengal, which does not get involved in any of the Government of India progammes made sure that we sat at least at the officer-level if not at the political level to bridge those gaps."