Modi govt has allotted ₹9K cr to boost nutrition: Irani
CAMPAIGN Minister launches drive in Kota to fight malnutrition among pregnant women, children
KOTA: Launching a nutrition campaign in Kota on Saturday, Union minister for women and child development Smriti Irani said the Narendra Modi-led government has earmarked ₹9000 crore for eradication of malnourishment among mothers and children.
“For the first time in India, the Modi government has launched ‘poshan’ (nutrition) scheme in the country from 2018, in which a provision of ₹9000 crore has been made and the scheme intends to eradicate malnourishment among women and children,” Smriti said at the launch of ‘Suposhit Maa Abhiyan’ in Kota. The campaign was organised by Kota Grain and Seeds Merchant Association on the initiative of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.
Irani gave away monthly nutrition diet kits to 1000 malnourished adolescent girls and pregnant women of Kota district.
She said ₹5000 crore has been transferred directly into the bank accounts of 1.50 crore women in the country under Pradhan Mantri Matra Vandana scheme in the last 3 years. “Malnourishment is not confined to just nutrition, it is also linked to sanitation; so construction of toilets for 11 crore women and the sanitation drive under the Modi regime saves people from malnourishment.”
Under Jal Jeevan mission, tap water will be provided to every household, she said. “Malnourishment is an intergenerational challenge in the country, so the PM has urged for making eradication of malnourishment in women and children a public movement,” Irani said.
The Modi government provided toilets to 11 crore women and 8 crore women got LPG gas connections under Ujjawala scheme, she said, adding 15 crore women took loan under Mudra scheme for self-employment.
Irani said, “PM Modi understands women’s pain and started Ujjawala scheme and toilet construction since he saw his own mother struggling but those people cannot understand this who are born with silver spoon in their mouth.”
Speaking as the chief guest on the occasion, Om Birla said the ‘Suposhit Maa’ campaign aims to ensure good health to pregnant women and children; nutritious food products and medicines will be given mothers and blood to anaemic women, and their health diagnosis will be done.
“The campaign will run through public contribution and charity,” he said. This campaign has been started in Kota-bundi parliamentary constituency; other MPS will be persuaded to replicate such a campaign in their constituencies, said Birla.
Avinash Rathi, president of Kota Grain and Seeds Merchant Association, Bhamashah mandi, Kota, said the diet kit includes 5 kg wheat flour, 1 kg gram flour, 1 kg maize flour, 1 kg millet flour, 1 kg jaggery, 3 kg pulses, 1 kg soybean badi, 500 gram desi ghee, 500 gram groundnut, 500 gram roasted gram, 500 gram dates and 1 kg rice.
Earlier, Congressmen showed black flags to the convoy of Irani to protest hike in prices of LPG gas cylinders. Congressmen led by party general secretary, Kota city, Vipin Barthunia, assembled on the Kota-jhalawar NH with placards, LPG cylinders, black balloons and black flags.