“Poshan Maah” formally launched by DC, Cachar

Sept.8: The month-long Poshan Maah kickstarted in Cachar district with its formal inauguration by Deputy Commissioner, Cachar Keerthi Jalli at her office campus here on Tuesday. Earlier, a district level convergence meeting on “Poshan Maah” was held at the conference hall of the Deputy Commissioner to chalk out the plan of action for observance of the nutrition month.The meeting was organised by the District Social Welfare department in collaboration with the District Administration. The meeting was presided over by Deputy Commissioner, Jalli.

The entire month of September is being celebrated as the “Rashtriya Poshan Maah”. This year’s theme is “A step towards kuposhan mukt Bharat”. The purpose of celebrating the Poshan Maah is to take the message of nutrition to every nook and corner of the country especially grassroot level and to focus on detection of SAM (severely acute malnourished) children, antenatal care, optimal breastfeeding, complementary feeding, reduction of anemia, girls’ education, diet, right age of marriage, hygiene and sanitation, treatment and prevention from infection in children.

The main objective of Poshan Maah is to bring about mass awareness and change in the mindset of the people towards importance of good health, hygiene and good food practices during adolescence period. The first 1,000 days of a child, importance of complementary foods along with mother’s milk, food diversification, consumption of IFA tables and calcium are given prime importance.

Timely growth monitoring of children below 5 years, immunization of children and pregnant mother and nutrition and health education are given equal importance. At the outset, a pledge was administered by Deputy Commissioner Jalli to the officials of concerned departments. Jalli requested all the line departments to work in tandem and make the Poshan Maah a grand success. She requested the Environment and Forest department to distribute plant and saplings on the occasion.

Jalli also instructed the Health department to make field visits with Social Welfare department and find out the SAM (severely acute malnourished children) and moderately malnourished children etc. The Deputy Commissioner also instructed the PHE department to converge with Health department in mining hilly areas for chemical testing of drinking water. Jalli also instructed the DRDA, the nodal department, to start plantation program as they have already taken up plantation drive under MGNREGA.

Planning Officer, Ruli Dolagaphu urged the stakeholders to provide indigenous food like “Murior ladoo”, dry fish and low cost vegetables like carrot, pumpkin etc to pregnant women and lactating mothers. Representative of the Joint Director of Health Services said that IFA tablets and calcium tablets will be provided to pregnant women and lactating mothers.

Inspector of Schools, Semina Yasmeen Sara Rahman said that they will host online essay competition among students. “Poshan Vatika” will be set up at each CDPO level and kitchen garden at “Adarsh Gram”. The meeting was also attended by District Social Welfare Officer, Saswati Shome, District Coordinator (Poshan) Nurul Hasan Choudhury and other officials.