Minister reviews nutrition schemes, Anganwadis and Poshan Abhiyaan

In order to make the Punjab foods spread their aroma globally, the Punjab State Food Commission (PSFC) has strongly advocated the develop of a Government owned brand PUNJAB MART which has been submitted to the Punjab Government.

Apprising the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Mr. Lal Chand Kataruchak about the initiatives of the commission, the Chairman of the Chairman of the Commission Mr. Bal Mukand Sharma said that this initiative would go a long way in promoting the foods of Punjab at the international level.

The significance of ensuring rural employment in the State through the strengthening of Cooperative sector was also brought to the notice of Mr. Kataruchak. This would involve the synchronization of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Rural Development, Cooperation, Employment Generation departments as well as the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) and the Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies.

The Minister in this regard exhorted the commission to learn from the best practices of other States.

It was also highlighted before the Minister that with a view to improve the nutritional security of the State, Nutritional Gardens based on Fruit Plants, Vegetables & Herbal Plants have been developed in the schools.

The Minister also reviewed the Mid Day Meal scheme aimed at providing school going students. The Anganwadis centres also came in for a review by the Minister besides the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) which provides integrated services for the development of children upto the age of 6 years, Pregnant Women and Nursing Mothers. The Poshan Abhiyaan initiative was also reviewed which includes Nutri Gardens known as Poshan Vatika - A small garden near an Anganwadi Centre where fruits, vegetables and medicinal plants are grown.

The Minister directed that there should be no compromise in ensuring quality meals to the people especially in situations of drought as part of the Right to Food as necessary to uphold Article 21 of the constitution of India. The Article 21 guarantees the fundamental right to live life with human dignity.

A Member of the Commission Vijay Dutt emphasized the creation of a War Room at the Chandigarh Headquarters for the centralized monitoring of the activities of the Commission.

Those present on the occasion included the Chairman of the Commission Bal Mukand Sharma, Member Secretary Kanu Thind and Members such as Jasvir Singh Sekhon, Vijay Dutt & Chetan Prakash Dhaliwal.