Malnutrition reduced by 32% in Gujarat in past seven years:Modi

Ahmedabad, 23 March 2013

In a huge convention of women in Ahmedabad the Chief Minister Narendra Modi today reiterated his resolve for empowering the State’s women through the Mission Mangalm programme and for battling malnutrition through Mission Balam Sukham campaign.

The women’s convention was held in Ahmedabad in the headship of the Chief Minister with a view to give a boost to the State’s fight against malnutrition and for the empowerment of women.

On the occasion the Chief Minister and the Minister In-Charge for Ahmedabad Mrs Anandiben Patel presented state-level Mata Yashoda awards worth Rs 1.47 crore to 870 anganwadi workers, incentive prizes of Rs 68.57 lakh to 1584 female sportspersons and assistance worth Rs 1.40 lakh to about 817 girls from Chief Minister’s Kanya Kelavani Nidhi for higher studies in abroad.

Similar conventions were also held and the prizes were presented at all the district centres in the headship of Ministers In-Charge. Mr. Modi’s inspirational address was live telecasted to all the conventions through video conferencing. In all, about one lakh women listened to the Chief Minister’s address which stressed on girl child education, rooting out malnutrition and encouraging girls for pursuing sports.

The Chief Minister felicitated the Ahmedabad district panchayat team which recently bagged national award for campaign against malnutrition. He also launched a website for monitoring the activities of anganwadis.

Referring to a CAG report which acknowledged 32% decrease in the number of children suffering from malnutrition in Gujarat during last seven years, the Chief Minister said the State is on the right direction in its battle against malnutrition. “It is not the government, but the strength of mothers that will eventually root out malnutrition”, he said.

“India’s valorous sons sacrificed their lives to free the Bharat Mata from the shackles of British rule. This women’s convention has been held in the State on the same day which we observe as martyr’s day in the memory of those brave sons. They had opportunity to sacrifice their lives for the nation, now it is our responsibility to live our lives for the nation”, Mr.Modi said.

He appealed people to take vows for allowing women to engage in the development process and for creating a society where not a single pregnant woman suffer from malnutrition since a healthy society has its foundation in healthy children.

Mr. Modi said that through the figures of 2001 census our nation had realized the seriousness of the issue of malnutrition. Even the Prime Minister referred to it as a national shame. But, on its part, Gujarat has launched a battle against malnutrition through unique initiatives. Not only that, Ahmedabad’s district panchayat team has bagged national award for the best works in removal of malnutrition.

The Chief Minister also spoke about the achievements attained under the schemes for economic empowerment of women and the Mission Balam Sukham.

Mr. Modi said that the girls are now performing better than boys in competitive exams and higher education due to the campaigns like Kanya Kelavani. After the state started organizing the Khel Mahakumbh, the girls have also earned proud for Gujarat in national level sports competitions. Gujarati girls bagging awards on national level is an indication of women empowerment.

Lauding the role of anganwadi workers the Chief Minister said that despite the tough situations in their lives they have worked great for the edification of the children. “Anganwadi workers have earned such repute that now people have started regarding the nand ghar of anganwadi as the temple of their village”, he said.

Revenue Minister Anandiben Patel said that the state government has given a new identity to the role of anganwadi workers. The state has implemented various schemes for economic empowerment of the women. Facilities like concrete buildings for 50,000 anganwadis and other has been put in place at the cost of Rs. 1000 crore. The State government has also made efforts for providing nutritional food to the girls in anganwadis.

Mrs. Patel said the state government has given priority to girl child education and taking care of women’s health. Vidhya Lakshmi Bond has been given to over fifty thousand girls. Safer deliveries have been facilitated to about 40,000 women through 108 ambulances during past 3 to 4 years.

Secretary to Women and Child Development Anju Sharma said the budget for women and child development department has been increased by 898% and the budget for nutritional food has been increased by 718% during past decade, which shows the kind of priority the state government has given to both the fields.

On the occasion the Chief Minister felicitated the children who successfully came out of malnutrition.

MLAs Babubhai Jamanadas Patel, Dr. Nirmalaben Nathwani, Mr. Bhushan Bhatt, Mayor Asit Vora, Deputy Mayor Darshanaben Vaghela, Standing Committee Chairman Bhupendra Patel, former MLA Kamabhai Rathod, Principal Secretary to Primary Education Sangita Singh, Secretary to Youth Services and Cultural Activities department Bhagyesh Jha, Municipal Commissioner Guruprasad Mahapatra, District Collector Vijay Nehra, Mr. Banchhanidhi Pani, government officials and anganwadi workers were present on the occasion.