Koderma: In a significant step towards enhancing child and maternal welfare, Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Annpurna Devi, chaired the “Kuposhan Mukt Jharkhand” event in Koderma today. Organized by the District Administration, the event aimed to bolster nutrition and education efforts across the state. The program featured the Poshan Oath, discussions on “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao,” awards for 10th and 12th-grade students, and the facilitation of beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY). The day also saw traditional ceremonies like Godh Bharai and Annaprashan to celebrate motherhood and child nutrition.
The event is part of the broader Poshan Abhiyaan—India’s flagship scheme to improve nutritional outcomes for children, adolescent girls, pregnant women, and lactating mothers. Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 8, 2018, the program seeks to combat malnutrition through a convergent approach that promotes health, wellness, and immunity.
During her address, Annpurna Devi emphasized the government’s dedication to tackling malnutrition nationwide. As part of the 7th Poshan Maah 2024, she reiterated the importance of healthy diets and lifestyles, saying, “The Ministry of Women and Child Development is dedicated to ensuring the holistic health and nutrition of future generations. Our initiatives, including Poshan Maah and Mission Saksham Anganwadi, are crucial in the fight against malnutrition. Together, we will ensure that no chil1`d or woman suffers from malnutrition.”
The Minister highlighted key components of Poshan Maah 2024, which focuses on six core themes: Anaemia, Growth Monitoring, Complementary Feeding, Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi (Nutrition and Education), Technology for Better Governance, and the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign, which promotes tree planting in Anganwadi centers across the country.
At the Anganwadi center in Balrotand, Annpurna Devi showcased the Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi initiative, which integrates nutrition with high-quality early childhood education. The program, she explained, has already trained 15,364 Anganwadi workers as master trainers and provided basic literacy training to 10,756 others, impacting over 344,000 children statewide.
Jharkhand has been at the forefront of this national movement, with over 12.53 lakh sensitization activities conducted across all 24 districts. The Minister praised the community’s active participation in raising nutritional standards. As part of the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam initiative, 50 lakh saplings have been planted in 13.95 lakh Anganwadi centers nationwide, underlining the environmental focus of Poshan Maah 2024.
Annpurna Devi commended the coordinated efforts of various ministries—Education, Health and Family Welfare, Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, and AYUSH—in supporting Poshan Maah 2024. She also acknowledged the contributions of the Press Information Bureau (PIB) and MyGov in driving public awareness and engagement.
Concluding the event, the Minister pledged continued efforts to upgrade Anganwadi centers in Jharkhand and reiterated that achieving a malnutrition-free India is a shared responsibility. “With the active involvement of all stakeholders, we are confident in achieving our goals and ensuring a healthier future for every child and mother in the country,” she said.