Punjab Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Aruna Chaudhary informed that the Department has so far sensitised approximately 2.6 lakh women and 20,000 adolescent girls of the State since the inception of the ‘Anaemia Mukt Punjab’ campaign, besides continuously providing nutritious food to more than three lakh children along with pregnant and nursing women.

“The State Government has launched the Anaemia Mukt Punjab’ campaign on July 7, and since then, the Department, through its Anganwari Workers and helpers, conducted awareness activities in Anganwari Centres and villages by strictly complying to the COVID appropriate behaviour protocols,” said the Minister.

She added Anaemia is one of the issues of public health concern. Numerous initiatives have been planned to address this challenge in the State. A community-based event with a focus on Anaemia is organised every Wednesday. Apart from this, social media platforms are being used to create awareness about Anaemia, she added.

The Minister said new dietary recipes were also introduced last month under the Supplementary Nutritional Program which includes moong daal, besan, soya flour, and soya nuggets and this nutritious diet is prepared by Markfed.             

 “The Department is providing a nutritious diet under the Supplementary Nutritional Program (SNP) to 8,08,01 children (0-6 year) and 2,40,093 pregnant and nursing mothers through Anganwadi Centers so that the nutritional value of their food could be further raised,” she added.