Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that mass movement is necessary for the work of eradicating malnutrition among children and improving their health status. Impetus is being given to the efforts in the state by obtaining public cooperation for this purpose. The campaign to make Anganwadis capable will be boosted by increasing the participation of Crisis Management Committees, members of Antyodaya Committees and voluntary organisations, which were active during the Corona period. CM Chouhan was addressing the meeting of the Task Force Committee constituted by the State Government to reduce infant-maternal mortality in Mantralaya on Tuesday. The Task Force Committee presented the interim report before CM Chouhan and apprised about the study done through presentation.

 

On behalf of the task force, Shamika Ravi, Prof. Ramesh Agarwal and Prof. Suparna Ghosh submitted the report. Chief Secretary Iqbal Singh Bains, Additional Chief Secretary Health Mohammad Suleman, Additional Chief Secretary Women and Child Development Ashok Shah, Health Commissioner Dr. Sudam Khade were present. Road map will be prepared in consultation with experts Chief Minister Chouhan said that the interim report submitted by the task force has been prepared after detailed study by the members of the committee and visiting different areas of the state. In the light of this report, the State Government will prepare the necessary roadmap soon in consultation with the Health Department, Women and Child Development Department and subject experts. Necessary action plan will also be implemented with public participation. Ladli Laxmi daughters have also expressed their intention to bear social responsibility. We have to get rid of the stigma of malnutrition. The cooperation of these daughters will also be obtained in the work of eradicating malnutrition. CM Chouhan thanked the members of the task force for the report presented. Public support is being received to end malnutrition: Chief Minister Chouhan said that continuous public cooperation is being received to make Anganwadi centres convenient and efficient. Not only toys but also various learning equipment including coolers, fans, furniture, TV sets, study materials, books and computers are being provided to Anganwadi centres in Bhopal and Indore. Common citizens, public representatives, businessmen, government servants and voluntary organisations have actively participated in this campaign. The public, especially the farmers, have extended their cooperation to provide nutritious food items and food grains etc. to the children coming to the Anganwadi centres.

 

The awakening coming at the social level is remarkable. It will help in raising the level of health of children by eliminating malnutrition. Madhya Pradesh among the best states, but it is necessary to increase continuous efforts It was informed by the task force that in the SDG India Index report released by NITI Aayog, Madhya Pradesh has been placed in the category of “good performing” states, which shows that the state has achieved success in accomplishing the Sustainable Development Goals of health. There is a need to increase continuous efforts in this area in the state. The task force have claimed that it is imperative to hold regular review and monitoring by higher levels of governance to achieve the targets in the field of maternal and child health. Chief Minister Chouhan’s efforts are commendable: The members of the task force said that Chief Minister Chouhan has himself regularly reviewed these meetings to end malnutrition of children in the state. The task force has stressed to address the shortfall in physical infrastructure and human resource for better results in the fields of child-maternal welfare, nutritional efforts including complementary feeding of infants, regular immunization, prevention of diseases, referral transport for newborns and has laid emphasis on expansion of facilities like blood bank. The task force also praised the child welfare works being undertaken by the CM Chouhan and the efforts and campaigns to provide nutrition, health, education and culture to the children of Anganwadis in the State.