Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel launched the ‘Harik Naani Bera’ (Joyful Childhood) campaign by offering ‘laddu’ made of groundnut and jaggery to children on Saturday at Tokapal.

The campaign aims at eradicating malnutrition.

Addressing the people about forest rights, malnutrition, and village development workshops, Baghel said not only in the country but in the state too malnutrition is a challenge. In last 18 years, the per capita income in the state has increased but poor became poorer. State has around 37% malnourished people.

He adds, “Taking it as a   challenge, on Friday at Dantewada we launched the ‘Suposhit Dantewada’ campaign and for Bastar district the ‘Harik Naani Bera’ as the biggest fight against malnutrition.”

To build a strong Chhattisgarh a massive statewide campaign would be launched on October 2, on the occasion of 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, to make the state ‘Malnutrition Free’, Baghel said.

Under the campaign, in Bastar district 70,000 children and 9000 mothers will be given nutritious meal. Along with it they will also be given additional nutrition of eggs, jaggery and ‘laddu’ of groundnut twice in a week. The women and child welfare department will implement the scheme.

He also released the ‘Mochcho Office-Nagat Office’ brochure based on the facilities being extended to common man through district administration. 

Baghel underscored key decisions taken by his government within its seven months tenure and claimed it had brought drastic changes in the life of people-- from farmers to tribal leaf pluckers to common man. Decisions have helped to increase purchasing power. It is truly the government of the people, he added.

Chief Minister also announced different developmental works worth Rs 123.88 crore.

Bastar district in-charge and tribal welfare minister Dr Premsai Singh Teka, Commercial Tax minister (Excise) Kawasi Lakhma and Deepak Baij, MP also addressed the gathering.