Distribution of One Lakh Nutritional Kits on the Birthday of Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi

An initiative to achieve the goals of nutritional security in the country - Union Minister, Shri Tomar

The Krishi Vigyan Kendras across the country distributed the Nutrition Kits to the Anganwadi workers.

More than 700 through KVKs are playing an important role through the Nutri Gardens.

17th September, 2020, New Delhi

Observing the Rashtriya Poshan Maah to celebrate the 2nd Anniversary of the Poshan Abhiyan and the Birthday of Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, the Krishi Vigyan Kendras across the country distributed I Lakh Nutrition Kits to Anganwadi Workers here today.

Shri Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare regarded the distribution of “Nutrition Kits” and starting of “Nutrition Smart Villages” by the ICAR along with its more than 700 KVKs across the country as the pioneer step in helping the Government to eradicate the problem of malnutrition from the country. Shri Tomar was addressing the Poshan Abhiyaan - 2020 and Training Programme for Women Farmers organized by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, New Delhi. While ensuring the food security, the country is considerably moving towards achieving the nutritional security goals.

The Union Minister highlighted the pivotal roles being played by the Ministry of Women & Child Development; Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare; ICAR and IFFCO along with other organizations to provide the nutritious food to the women and children of the country. He also outlined the adverse effects of materialism that has made it difficult to grow the nutritious food items like fruits and vegetables in one’s courtyards. The Minister accentuated on the steps being taken by the Ministry of Women & Child Development to felicitate the availability of nutritious food items to women and children with the help of Anganwadis.

Shri Tomar underlined the main objective of Nutri Gardens and Poshan Thali that aims to provide the poor and underprivileged sections of the society with the healthy and nutritious food. The Union Minister outlined the pivotal roles being played by the KVKs to achieve the targets of the Government of India. He also highlighted the organization of various meetings to spread the awareness on nutrition’s importance in life. He stressed that the IFFCO has also pledged to participate in the campaign for providing the various resources.

Outlining the distribution of 1 Lakh Nutrition Kits by the KVKs during the programmes organized for the Anganwadi workers to celebrate the PM’s Birthday, the Union Minister stated that the Kits contain various types of seeds, plants, planting materials and information literature, etc. He stressed that the Kits would help the Anganwadi Workers to grow Kitchen Gardens and yield nutritious foods at their homes only. Shri Tomar regarded the initiative as a first and pivotal step to eradicate the problem of malnutrition from the society.

The Union Minister highlighted the establishment of 307 Nutrition Smart Villages and 8,264 Nutri Gardens by the KVKs across the country under the guidance of 11 Agricultural Technical Application Research Institutes. He accentuated on the technical evaluation related to nutrition done by 130 KVKs on 252 activities that has benefitted around 2,116 beneficiaries. Along with this, technical demonstration has been carried out in around 4,505 activities related to nutrition benefitting about 50,894 beneficiaries. These technical demonstrations include 2,744 demonstrations on Nutri Gardens, 222 on Bio-fortified varieties, 1,149 on value-addition and 390 demonstrations on other nutrition related enterprises.

Shri Kailash Choudhary, Union Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare; Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary (DARE) & Director General (ICAR); Dr. Ashok Kumar Singh, Deputy Director General (Agricultural Extension), ICAR; Shri U.S. Awasthi, Chairman, IFFCO along with senior officials of ICAR and Krishi Vigyan Kendra and Anganwadi Workers virtually participated in the event.

(Source: Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi)