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Activities under Poshan Maah focus around Rain Water Harvesting and Water Conservation Promotion in/around Anganwadi Centres,

In the ongoing Poshan Maah 2022, there has been a greater emphasis on Water Management activities by Ministry of WCD at varied levels  with Ministry of Jal Shakti.  As a result during the  first two weeks of the celebrations itself, more than 10 lakh activities linked to ‘Water Management’ have been reported.

Adequate consumption of water, free from contamination, helps the human body to perform better thereby retaining the nutritional value of food consumed. Easily accessible and safe water helps address water borne diseases, particularly diarrhea in children.

In convergence with Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS) activities under Poshan Maah have primarily focused around Rain Water Harvesting and Water Conservation Promotion in/around Anganwadi Centres.

Towards this endeavour, the Ministry of WCD  has requested all States/UTs to take up rain-water harvesting suitable to climatic conditions in the premises of all Anganwadis. Further, role of women in water conservation and management have especially been highlighted through Village Health Nutrition and Sanitation Committees (VHNSCs)ss involving Poshan Panchayats and Mother Groups.

‘Nutrition centric Jan Andolans’ have played a vital role in sensitizing masses across India, since the launch of POSHAN Abhiyaan in March 2018. So far, eight such Jan Andolans viz. four each of Poshan Pakhwada and Poshan Maah in the month of March and September have been successfully organized. The ninth Jan Andolan in form of Poshan Maah 2022 is currently ongoing, witnessing keen participation throughout the country. Key themes have included, critical importance of first 1000 days, Poshan ke paanch sutra, Growth monitoring, Anemia Prevention, Integration of Ayush practices, focus on diet diversity and traditional indigenous recipes etc.

For the celebration of fourth Poshan Pakhwada in March 2022, another key theme of “Gender Sensitive Water Management Programmes” was adopted under the Abhiyan for the first time, across the country.

A variety of ‘Public Outreach Campaigns on Water Management’ have been taken up as an effective strategy to propagate the conservation, protection and sustainable use of water. In this pursuit, the AWWs/AWHs were engaged in generating awareness on the importance of water in day-to-day life of children and pregnant women  and lactating mothers on topics such as rain water harvesting, re-use of water in kitchen gardens, cleaning of floors, toilets etc.

Some of the key highlights around the theme are given below:

• 1.56 lakh ‘Gender Sensitive Water Management Programmes’ were conducted nationwide in the last Poshan Pakhwada, March 2022, which included the following:
  • Promotion of Rainwater Harvesting (RWH) at AWCs: 10,813
  • Webinars on Rainwater Harvesting Structures (RHS): 99,071
  • Sensitisation at existing & functional RWH structures: 45,603

Details of the activities during the Poshan Maah-2022 including State/UT-wise participation are as below:

 

• • 20 thousand ‘Celebrations of model Rain Water Harvesting (RWH) structures in Anganwadi Centres (AWCs).’
  • Functionaries from WCD, and Jal Shakti, community associated with AWCs, along with members of Village Jal Samiti, Krishi Vigyan Kendras etc. have participated in the same.

 

• • 24 thousand ‘Cleaning/de-silting campaigns at community water bodies - lake/pond/well/water tank etc.’
  • Functionaries from WCD, Jal Shakti, Panchayati Raj and Rural Development, along with village community and members of Village Jal Samiti, Krishi Vigyan Kendras, Farmers’ committees etc. have participated in the same.

 

• • 29 thousand ‘Sensitisation activities on water conservation with local institutions/bodies (PRIs/ULBs).’

 

• • 34 thousand ‘Session/event on promotion of rainwater harvesting (RWH) at AWCs.’
  • Functionaries from WCD and Jal Shakti, along with community associated with AWC, and members of Village Jal Samiti etc. have participated. At several places, Dist. Jal Shakti Kendras, technical officials of Jal Shakti, specialized Water Research Institutes etc. have also participated to enhance issue-based knowledge of masses.

 

• • 46 thousand ‘Water management activities by specialized agencies, including local NGOs.’
  • Functionaries from WCD, Jal Shakti and Panchayati Raj, along with community members have participated in the same. Specialized agencies like Jal Shakti Kendras, Water Research Institutes along with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) / NGOs working on water conservation / management issues etc. have effectively participated to sensitize masses on the same. 

 

• • 54 thousand ‘Workshops for sensitizing women on techniques of water conservation, management and harvesting.’
  • Agencies like Jal Shakti Kendras, Water Research Institutes along with their technical officials at varied levels etc. have taken sessions in presence of officials from WCD, Jal Shakti, Health, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj to increase knowledge levels of masses on issues concerning water management. 

 

• • Closely linked to ‘Water Management’ is an important area -WaSH. Under the same more than 8 lakh activities on ‘Hand Wash and Sanitation/Hygiene, Water & Sanitation’ have also been successfully conducted so far.
  • Functionaries from WCD along with Education, Health, Jal Shakti, Panchayati Raj etc. have made the community especially children/students aware of Wash and its importance towards better nutrition and health.   

Sl. No.	State/UT	No. of activities
1	TAMIL NADU	199139
2	MAHARASHTRA	155102
3	MADHYA PRADESH	111475
4	GUJARAT	92941
5	PUNJAB	84525
6	BIHAR	67316
7	UTTAR PRADESH	62110
8	KARNATAKA	6679
9	JHARKHAND	6212
10	ANDHRA PRADESH	4660

 

GOA – Sensitization activities on Water Conservation, Consumption and Save Water

        

 

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SS/TFK