Governor Anandiben Patel launched several innovative initiatives, including distribution of kits to 150 new Anganwadi centres.
At the Anganwadi centre kit distribution ceremony held at the Commissioner's Auditorium here on Monday, she said that continuous efforts are being made for the uplift of women, girls and pregnant women.
Addressing the gathering as the chief guest, she mentioned the efforts made during her previous tenure in 1998, which brought the Women and Child Development Department to prominence. She called for checking the haemoglobin of pregnant women, ensuring they consume nutritious food, organising programmes like Garbha Sanskar to monitor the development of the baby from the first to the ninth month and displaying a complete chart in Anganwadi centres so that women can know which part of the baby’s body will develop in which month.
The Governor emphasised the need to promote homoeopathic medicine in Anganwadi centres and primary schools. She highlighted the efforts made by Akshaya Patra during her tenure as Gujarat government in 2002. She also encouraged special efforts for malnourished children and proposed providing gram and jaggery to children. She also encouraged the support of social service leaders. She informed that a new HPV vaccine has been developed for women up to 26 years of age. She said, “50 per cent of the country's cancer cases are found in Uttar Pradesh and all efforts must be made to completely eliminate it.”
She also raised awareness among women about social abuse and urged them to constantly monitor their children and remain vigilant. She emphasised the need for continuous efforts to ensure women’s safety both at home and outside. She encouraged the promotion of computer skills among women and children. The Governor praised the work of Chief Development Officer Himanshu Nagpal.
Various new programmes were launched and MoUs were signed at the event in which distribution of Anganwadi kits to 150 new Anganwadi centres, launch of e-Sathi platform by pressing a button, MoU between ICDS and Water Aid India for Anganwadi infrastructure, launch of school coding programme and Nivesh Sakhi programme, MoU between DC NRLM and Atal Incubation Centre (BHU), inauguration of dialysis machines given in Chowkaghat and Durgakund health centres, distribution of certificates to HPV vaccinated girls, MoU between ICDS and Feeding India for breakfast and mid-day meal by Feeding India organisation in Anganwadi centres of urban areas, along with awarding of record certificates received in 1,12,000 breast cancer screening programme on September 29 in Varanasi.
Mayor Ashok Tiwari, Chief Development Officer Himanshu Nagpal, Additional Commissioner of Police Rajesh Kumar Singh and others also spoke on the occasion.