Ram Lalla is going to be installed in his own temple on January 22, after 500 years. Prior to this historic occasion, the work of providing nutritious meals, on the lines of mid-day meals, to children aged 3 to 6 years in the state began from Ayodhya, signifying an auspicious beginning.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Hot Cooked Meal Scheme at the Composite School located at the police lines, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Friday that well-nourished and healthy children would become the pillars of a strong India.

He also laid the foundation stone of 3,401 Anganwadi centres in 35 districts at a cost of Rs 403 crore. Additionally, he inaugurated a transit hostel for police personnel in Ayodhya reserve police lines.

In his address, the chief minister highlighted that the initiative to provide hot meals with diverse menus on different days, following the model of the Mid-Day Meal, would progress with the mutual coordination of various departments.

Drawing attention to the successful eradication of encephalitis in eastern Uttar Pradesh, the chief minister stated that due to inter-departmental coordination, the government was able to control within four years the disease which claimed the lives of 50,000 children in 40 years.

“Therefore, it becomes essential that the work on the schemes be done through inter-departmental coordination, which can lead to better outcomes,” he said.

The chief minister pointed out that there are 1.90 lakh Anganwadi centres operating in the state, with more than two crore beneficiaries registered. These centres provide six types of services. For the first time in the state, the auspicious work of providing hot cooked meals to 80 lakh children aged 3 to 6 years is being started.

Addressing the Anganwadi workers and helpers present at the programme, the chief minister said, “Children are the form of God. You are fortunate because, like Yashoda Ma in the Dwapara Yuga, who nurtured Krishna in his childhood, you are serving and taking responsibility for the nourishment and health of hundreds of kanhas, contributing to the basis of a strong India. It is your fortune that you have got this opportunity.”

The chief minister said that there were many questions about nutrition schemes in the past. However, he added, significant improvements have been made in the last 6-7 years. There is improvement in the levels of anemia among children, and notable progress has been observed in cases of underweight, height, and overall weight. There has also been a reduction in the infant mortality rate.

He further said that there was still room for further improvement, and continuous efforts were required. “Healthy children are not only the responsibility of the Women and Child Development Department, but the Panchayati Raj and Urban Development departments should also be involved in it,” he added.

Prior to this, the chief minister visited the classrooms of the Composite School at the police lines, interacted with the children, and took information about their education and school uniforms. He then served food to the schoolchildren.

During the programme, Chief Minister Yogi watched a short film related to the Hot Cooked Meal Scheme in Anganwadi centres and distributed ‘Poshan bhi Padhai bhi’ kits to Anganwadi workers and helpers.

Additionally, the chief minister distributed Shree Anna nutrition plates to the children of Anganwadi centres.

On this occasion, Women Welfare, Child Development and Nutrition Development Minister Baby Rani Maurya, Basic Education Minister Sandeep Singh, Minister of State Pratibha Shukla, MP Lallu Singh, Mayor Girish Pati Tripathi, district panchayat chairperson Roli Singh, MLAs Ved Prakash Gupta, Ramchandra Yadav and Amit Singh, Principal Secretary (Women and Child Development) Veena Kumari Meena and advisor to the chief minister Awanish Awasthi were present.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated two buildings with 12 floors each for the residence of police officers in Ayodhya.

He said that high-quality buildings were being constructed for police officers in all police lines across the state.

He said it was the priority of the government to construct good barracks for the police personnel to live in all the police stations. “Soon, no police officer will be compelled to stay in dilapidated barracks. The government is committed to providing the best facilities to police personnel,” he said.