Governor Anandiben Patel distributed laptops to 56 students under Mukhyamantri Bal Seva Yojana and tablets to 126 under the Educate India Programme being run by Feeding India apart from kits to 150 Anganwadi workers at Sunbeam Varuna School Auditorium here on Thursday evening. On the occasion a presentation was made on the works done for strengthening Anganwadi and establishment of 12 Mother-Newborn Care Units (MNCUs) and 13 Mini Nutritional Rehabilitation Centre (NRCs) apart from nutrition programme being run for government school children, Abhinav Pahal-3.
Besides, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was exchanged for rejuvenation and other works of 250 Anganwadi centres and at another MoU transferred by Feeding India Initiative to get five blocks and city areas of the district completely rid of malnutrition. Apart from these, Abhinav Pahal-3 was started to fight against anemia and vitamin deficiency in schools.
Speaking on the occasion, the governor praised the work being done under the nutrition programme in Varanasi as the malnutrition rate has dropped sharply from 13.7 per cent in 2020 to just 1.2 per cent now. Expressing thanks to the Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) for giving kits to 150 Anganwadi workers, she emphasised that in this era of competition boys are lagging behind girls and this needs special attention. Anandiben, laying special emphasis on establishing India as a superpower in the world, said that today 190 countries of the world are doing yoga along with India. Referring to the G-20 countries, she said that 80 per cent of the world’s GDP is with these 20 countries. Governor further said that mother’s milk is essential for infants, but in today’s changing environment, mothers do not breastfeed their children. “This is a wrong trend. Mothers should breastfeed their babies. Schemes are being run by the government to nourish malnourished children,” she said, congratulating the Anganwadi workers who attended the function wearing pink sarees.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Development Officer (CDO) Himanshu Nagpal gave a digital presentation of programmes like Anganwadi rejuvenation, nutrition for children etc. He informed that 250 Anganwadi centres are being rejuvenated by the Vedanta group and nutrition kits are being delivered to the homes of the children. Special efforts are being made to make babies weighing less than 2.5 kg healthy. He informed that at present there are 12 NRCs, which are caring after 100 children every month. District Magistrate (DM) S Rajalingam assured the Governor that whatever schemes are being run for children and women through Anganwadi centres, they will be implemented on priority so that their benefits are available to pregnant mothers and children. Departmental officers and prominent people were also present on the occasion.