Convergence of six departments yields dividend in Poshan Abhiyan, Dhubri

A Correspondent

DHUBRI: Convergence of six departments is now yielding dividends in Poshan Abhiyan in Dhubri district and this is evident from the fact that over 50 awareness campaigns have been conducted so far till September 15.

In the first week of September of the Poshan Maah Abhiyan, 19 awareness campaigns were conducted while rest were conducted in the second week in Dhubri district due to intervention by Additional Joint Secretary of Social Welfare, Jishnu Baruah last week in Dhubri in a convergence meeting.

Baruah addressed a convergence meeting of all the departments to review and take stock of the ongoing Poshan Abhiyan activities in the district at the Dhubri DC conference hall on September 11. An official source informed that Baruah was not satisfied with the quality of data of Pradhan Mantri Matri Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) as registration of beneficiaries was very low, and instructed the officials to gear up the registration process. He also wanted to know as how many Anganwadi centres did not have toilet and drinking water facility and about utilization of supplementary nutrition programme fund.

The convergence meeting was attended by Dhubri Deputy Commissioner Anant Lal Gyani, District Social Welfare Officer Kishori Barua, Joint Director of Health, MS Emdadulla and UNICEF regional coordinator Vikas Singh.

Convergence of various department was necessitated to address the issues of Poshan (overall nutrition), breastfeeding, complimentary feeding, immunization, growth monitoring, food fortification, and micronutrients, diarrhoea, hygiene, anaemia, drinking water, sanitation, adolescence and antenatal care.

In order to deliver highest and maximum benefits to the targeted group, a convergence group with Social Welfare Department, Public Health Centres, Public Health Engineering, Sarba Siksha Abhijan and Food and Civil Supplies departments and panchayat body was formed, a source in Dhubri District Social Welfare Department informed.