Ministry of Women and Child Development ( MoWCD) is actively involved to support the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra  throughout the country.  MoWCD is participating under the “Meri Kahani Meri Zubani (MKMZ)” initiative in  which the beneficiaries from each Gram Panchayats  speak of their experiences and the impact that the Anganwadi Services have had on their lives. So far under MKMZ, more than 1800 beneficiaries have narrated their experiences.

“On-spot registrations” of eligible beneficiaries is being undertaken during the yatra for saturation of scheme under MoWCD. This yatra is a step towards further educating the masses about the various schemes and their benefits which is further motivating eligible persons to enroll for the relevant schemes.

Gumla Distt, Jharkhand

Gumla Distt, Jharkhand

Gumla Distt, Jharkhand

District-West Singh Bhumi, Jharkhand

MoWCD  have also  asked States to undertake Swasth Balak Spardha (SBS) during these Yatras where healthy children are felicitated. For sustained community involvement, it is imperative that the nutrition issues should be highlighted with a positive orientation, emphasizing on identification and celebration of a “Healthy Child.” This aims at improving the nutritional status of children in the age group of 0-6 years, building focus on healthy children, generating emotional connect of community at large with issues relating to nutrition & well-being of children, and instill the feeling of positive competitiveness among parents and children to be healthy.

On the occasion of Janjatiya Gaurav Divas, in a groundbreaking initiative aimed at saturating the benefits of Central government schemes across the nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the “Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra” on November 15, 2023 from Khunti, Jharkhand.

Specially designed IEC Vans carrying messages of government schemes were flagged off, adorned with information in local languages, to disseminate knowledge through audio-visuals, brochures, pamphlets, booklets, and standees. The Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra seeks to cover almost every gram panchayat in the country.

Upper Manikganj, Resubelpara ,North Garo Hills District, Meghalaya

Anganwadi Services (erstwhile Integrated Child Development Services) was launched in 1975. It is one of the flagship programmes of the Government of India and foremost symbol of the country’s commitment to children 0-6 years of age and target women (PW&LMs), and adolescent girls (currently in the age group of 14-18 years in Poshan 2.0 across Aspirational Districts and North Eastern States). The scheme aims to break the cycle of malnutrition, morbidity, reduced learning capacity and mortality.

Various initiatives have been launched by the  Ministry to focus on target beneficiaries. One such major initiative is the POSHAN Abhiyaan, launched by  the Prime Minister on 8^th March 2018 with an aim to achieve improvement in nutritional status of Children under 6 years, Adolescent Girls, Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers in a time bound manner by adopting a synergised and result-oriented approach.

The programme makes interventions with the use of technology, behavioural change through convergence and lays-down specific targets to be achieved across different monitoring parameters. The Abhiyaan has been rolled-out in all States and UTs.

For the 15^th Finance Commission period, Saksham Anganwadi and Mission Poshan 2.0 (Poshan 2.0) which is an “Integrated Nutrition Support Programme” was launched. Poshan 2.0, through a strategic shift in nutrition content and delivery and by creation of a convergent eco-system aims to develop and promote practices that nurture health, wellness and immunity from malnutrition.The scheme addresses malnutrition issues across the nation through components like ICT Application (Poshan Tracker), Convergence, Community Mobilization, Behavioural Change & Jan Andolan, Capacity Building, Incentives and Awards, and Innovations.

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SS/AKS