Drive with peoples participation to eradicate malnutrition

Bhopal. Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan has directed to launch a special drive with people’s participation to eradicate malnutrition in the state. Besides, Beti Bachao Abhiyan would be re-structured and implemented as a mass movement. He said that arrangements will be made at anganwadis to provide sanitary napkins to girls and women. He directed to chalk out a scheme regarding this. Lauding women’s empowerment efforts, the Chief Minister congratulated the department.

CM Shri Chouhan was reviewing activities of Women and Child Development Department here today. Departmental Minister Smt. Maya Singh, Principal Secretary Shri J.N. Kansotiya, Principal Secretary Finance Shri Ashish Upadhyay, Secretary to CM Shri Vivek Agrawal, Commissioner Women’s Empowerment Smt. Kalpana Shrivastava, Commissioner ICDS Smt. Pushplata Singh and departmental officers attended the meeting.

Child gender ratio up, child marriages down

Directing officers, the Chief Minister said that women’s empowerment should be visible in society. A planned strategy should be chalked out for this. He expressed pleasure that women’s participation in various fields has increased in the state following constant efforts for women’s empowerment. Say of women family decisions has increased by 82 percent. Bank accounts of women have increased from 9 percent to 38 percent. The Chief Minister lauded the department for successful implementation of Lado Abhiyan and Anmol programme. Through Lado Abhiyan, child marriages have declined by 30 percent. Similarly, cases of family violence have decreased by 27 percent. Child gender ratio has increased from 905 to 927.

The Chief Minister said that a special drive should be launched with people’s participation to eradicate malnutrition in the state. People should be urged to adopt Anganwadis or children. Shri Chouhan thanked 86 thousand people who adopted children under Suposhan Abhiyan. He directed to include sanitation, clean drinking water, vaccination, breastfeeding etc. in Suposhan Abhiyan.

The Chief Minister directed that anganwadi centres should open on time, workers are present regularly, children’s attendance should be ensured and they should be provided nutritious diet regularly. Besides, arrangements should be made to make available anganwadi services to children of labourers. Crèches should be activated. Arrangements for education of child beggars should be made.

Food processing unit for Baiga women

It has been decided that Swagat Laxmi Gaan highlighting all programmes of the department will be sung at the time of Kanya Poojan at public function. It was informed that in view of success of Shaurya Dal in the state, the Central Government has proposed to replicate it in entire country. It was informed that a food processing unit of kodo-kutki has been started by Tejaswini Nari Chetna Mahila Sangh at Dindori, which is running successfully. As many as 750 Baiga women connected to it have found sources of regular income. Sangh is producing Bharat Brand kodo-kutki.

On the occasion, e-Sanchayika of ISDS was released. It was informed that Shaurya Dals will be deployed to assistant women and children during Simhastha. They will also lend help at Lost & Found Centres.