Himachal CM Jai Ram Thakur vows to bring down malnutrition rate by 11 percent in state by 2022

Shimla, September 6: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Wednesday vowed to bring down the malnutrition rate by at least 11 percent in the state by 2022.

 

While presiding over a one-day state level workshop on Poshan Abhiyan (nutrition campaign), CM Jai Ram Thakur said that Himachal Pradesh was forging ahead on inclusive development, good governance, health and education sectors and there was a need for coordinated efforts to take the state on the new heights.

The Chief Minister said that the malnutrition in the children was a big challenge and serious efforts were needed to address this problem so that we could realize the dream of a healthy society. He also said that the rate of stunted children in the state was 36 percent in year 2016 which had now come down to 26 percent and the line departments should work in coordination to bring it further down to 15 percent by 2022.

Stressing on the need of awareness regarding nutrition, the Chief Minister stressed that every person should associate himself with this campaign. CM Jai Ram Thakur further noted that Pradhan Mantri Matri Vandna scheme had been launched in five districts of the state and would be started in other districts in a phased manner.

Notably, the one-day state level workshop on Poshan Abhiyan (nutrition campaign) organized by the Women and Child Development department. On the occasion, a Member of Niti Ayog Dr. Vinod Paul said that PM Modi had started this programme with a vision to make a healthy society and a strong nation. He said that more than 50 percent children were anemic in the country.

He said that breastfeeding up to two years was must for the newborn so that the chances of diarrhea, pneumonia and weakness could be avoided. He added that first 1000 days of life were the key period of rapid brain growth and maturation. He said linear growth failure in this period was associated with adult growth.

Speaking on the occasion, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Dr. Rajeev Saizal said that the month of September was being celebrated as 'Rashtriya Poshan Maah' with an aim of reaching to every household with a message "Har Ghar Poshan Tyohar".

He said that Rs. 5000 were being given to the pregnant women and lactating mothers in the state under Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojna. He said 1.45 lakh women had uploaded their applications online for taking benefit of this scheme and a sum of Rs. 17.27 crore had been credited to their bank accounts. The minister, in the end, said that Himachal Pradesh had been judged as best performing state in Pradhan Mantri Matri Vandna Yojna in the northern states.