The State Government on Friday launched a new programme “Mo Upakari Bagicha†(my beneficial garden) to undertake various kinds of cultivations for eradication of malnutrition from the State.
Under the programme, people would be encouraged to grow vegetables in their back gardens to get fresh vegetables to meet their need, said Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Minister Pratap Jena.
Jena said this while inaugurating the international seminar of “Promotion of Nutritious Foodsâ€, organised jointly by the Panchayati Raj Department and the State Livelihood Mission with support of the Azim Premji Philanthropic Indicatives.
Stating that the Infant Mortality Rate has come down from 65 in 2005-06 to 40 in 2015-16, the Minister said the State Government is making all efforts to make the State free of malnutrition.
Panchayati Raj Secretary Deo Ranjan Kumar Singh delivering the welcome address said that the Government would give awards to malnutrition-free gram panchayats. He said the “Mo Upakari Bagicha†would also support people to rear goats and hens.
Women and Chief Development Secretary Anu Garg stressed on coordination of concerned departments for making the “Mo Upakari Bagicha†a grand success.
Among others, Azim Premji Philanthropic CEO Anand Swaminathan and senior officers of Bangladesh and Philippines Governments were present.
Women would participate in the “Mo Upakari Bagicha†programme in big numbers to make it sustainable, said Agriculture Secretary Dr Sourbh Garg.
