Tatsat Chronicle Magazine

Centre reaches out to Mumbai’s minority communities via Poshan Abhiyaan

September 7, 2021

Union Minister for Women and Child Development. Smriti Zubin Irani and Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi attended a series of Poshan Jagrukta Abhiyaan (Nutrition Awareness Campaign) programmes under the Poshan Maah banner in different parts of Mumbai.

The programmes were organized jointly by the two ministries for the benefit of women belonging to minority communities.

The Ministers interacted with members of the Muslim, Buddhist, Jain, Sikh, Christian and Parsi communities. The interaction with the Muslim community was conducted at the Anjuman-I-Islam Girls School in suburban Bandra.

The outreach with the Jain, Sikh and Buddhist communities was conducted at Mahatma Gandhi Seva Mandir Hall, Bandra; with Christians at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in Sion, and the Parsi community, at the Parzor Foundation, Dadar Athornan Institute.

WCD Minister Smriti Zubin Irani highlighted how Prime Minister Narendra Modi has turned women’s issues into a social movement.

“Discussions on maternal health are no longer just confined to women. Nowadays, men are also thinking about women’s health. Pregnant women’s health should be a joint responsibility of the family,” she added.

Speaking on the importance of good nutrition and a healthy lifestyle, the Minister said that Poshan Abhiyaan was a social movement. “Along with the Ministry of Minority Affairs, we are today trying to take it forward amongst the minority communities. Each citizen has to resolve to give it due importance in his or her life.

“If we want to be able to tell the world that not a single child in India suffers from malnutrition, then it is important for members from all communities to come forward.” Cleanliness too was very important for nutrition, she added.

Minority Affair’s Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said “Decisions with Delivery” has been a commitment of the Modi Government.

“The Government has worked on a war-footing to provide affordable and quality health services to the people. It has taken several measures to ensure health and well-being of the people especially children and women from all sections of the society.”