Leh, December 2:  Advisor Ladakh, Umang Narula chaired a meeting with Administrative Secretaries of all Departments for planning convergence initiatives to address malnutrition in children, pregnant women and lactating mothers under POSHAN Abhiyan.

At the outset, Secretary, Social and Tribal Welfare Department, UT Ladakh, Padma Angmo gave a presentation on the Poshan Abhiyaan and detailed out the aspects that require convergence with other Departments at the grassroot level like the Departments of Health, Agriculture, Horticulture, Rural Development, School Education, Food & Civil Supplies, Forest and Public Health Engineering for addressing malnourishment among children. 

The importance of holding Poshan Panchayat, regular meetings of Village Health and Nutrition Committee, setting up of Poshan Vatikas in villages and Poshan Assembly in schools was discussed at length. Secretary Padma also briefed about the proposed Swasth Bacha Spardha, planned by the Ministry of Women & Child Development. 

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Advisor Ladakh, while reviewing the presentation reiterated that the Hon’ble Prime Minister has given a call for ‘Kuposhit Mukt Bharat’ and directed all Departments to ensure that malnourishment among children in Ladakh is eradicated. He directed for regular meetings of the Village Health, Sanitation and Nutrition Committee (VHSNC) which is set up under NRHM, and said that the Village Health and Nutrition Day should be celebrated in the villages on a quarterly basis with the active participation of all stakeholders. He also highlighted the need to encourage an active Poshan Panchayat in each village.

Talking about the Poshan Vatikas, Advisor Ladakh asked the officials from Leh to identify schools to set up a few Green House-Poshan Vatikas on a pilot basis in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture. He also directed that small vegetable gardens should be set up in all Anganwadi Centres using funding from the School Education Department, PHE, MGNREGA and Agriculture department schemes and utilising greywater discharge.

While discussing the issue about Anganwadi Centers in Kargil operating out of rented accommodation, he directed the Department of Social Welfare and School Education Department, Kargil to look into the matter for shifting of Anganwadi Centers to Schools. 

He also directed sustained tracking of identified malnourished children under the ICDS programme so that they are referred to Hospitals if their growth progress is not found to be satisfactory. He further directed regular check-ups of such children by doctors through periodic health camps at a block level. 

The meeting was attended by the Commissioner Secretary, School Education Department; Secretary, Panchayati Raj, and Rural Development Department; Secretary, Social and Tribal Welfare; Secretary, Food and Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs; Secretary, Agriculture & Horticulture, Cooperative Department, Deputy Commissioner, Leh; Regional Transport Officer, Ladakh; Director, School Education Ladakh; ADC Kargil, District Programme Officer, ICDS Leh and Kargil.