Rashtriya Poshan Maah ends with community participation

The UT Department of Social Welfare, Women and Child Development, organised a vibrant ceremony at the Anganwadi-cum-Creche Centre (AWCC), Sector 29, to mark the conclusion of Rashtriya Poshan Maah.

The event saw enthusiastic participation from community. Anuradha S Chagti, Secretary, and Dr Palika Arora, Director, Department of Social Welfare, were chief guests on the occasion. The month-long campaign, celebrated under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, focused on improving the health, nutrition, and overall well-being of women and children.

The event began with a presentation on the key activities conducted throughout Poshan Maah. A plantation drive under the initiative “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” was also held to encourage environmental awareness and promote a greener, healthier community.

Parents of Severely Acute Malnourished (SAM) kids were specially honoured for their efforts in improving their children’s health through proper nutrition and regular health check-ups. Beneficiaries, who successfully overcame anaemia, were also felicitated for their commitment to better health.

A millet stall set up by local beneficiaries displayed easy and affordable millet-based recipes, promoting the importance of traditional, nutritious foods in daily diets. The event also included ‘godhbharai’ (community baby shower) and ‘annaprashan’ (first feeding ceremony) to celebrate key milestones in maternal and child health.

Throughout the month, the Department conducted several awareness and outreach activities across the city, including a drive at Industrial Area, to spread awareness about the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana and encourage enrolments, a health and hygiene session at Circle 25 to promote good hygiene practices among women and children and special campaigns to promote healthy eating habits and address childhood obesity.

Various community-level programmes were also organised, including youth meetings, promotion of millets and kitchen gardens and home visits to educate parents on child feeding practices, growth monitoring, and breastfeeding.

Awareness drives were held on Aadhaar enrolment, menstrual hygiene, reducing plastic waste and the promotion of Anganwadi Centres as Learning Hubs for early education.

Through these collective efforts, the Department reaffirmed its strong commitment to improving the nutrition and health of women, children and adolescents in Chandigarh.