By Bhupen Goswami

Guwahati : Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal asserted that the State Government is unleashing all-embracing initiatives for realizing comprehensive changes in the Social Welfare Department. He also called upon the officials of the department to extend active cooperation and support in the Government efforts targeted for an image make-over. The Chief Minister said this while taking part as chief guest in an awareness programme organized by the Social Welfare Department in association with the district administrations of Nagaon, Morigaon and Hojai to mark the “National Nutrition Month” at Raha in Nagaon district today. Stating corruption as the major deterrent against development, he observed that uplifting people’s condition could be possible only through flawless implementation of welfare schemes. He pointed out that during the tenure of previous Government fund meant for nutritional purpose of children, pregnant women and mothers were siphoned off and that tarnished the image of the Social Welfare Department. He further added that the State Government unbound committed efforts for an image make-over of the department. The “Poshan Abhiyaan” which is a multi-ministerial convergence mission with the vision to ensure attainment of malnutrition free India by 2022 was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Jhunjunu in Rajasthan on March 8, 2018. The Abhiyaan aims to ensure holistic development and adequate nutrition for pregnant women, mothers and children in the country. Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Sonowal said that the Poshan Abhiyaan was rolled out in the country by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure wholesome development of the people of the country. Saying today’s children as the future of the nation, he termed it a noble responsibility to groom them as healthy citizen. He urged the Anganwadi Workers to perform their duties with responsibility and responsiveness in ensuring successful implementation of the nutritional programme. He also informed that remunerations of Anganwadi Workers and Anganwadi Helpers were hiked upto Rs. 6,500 and Rs. 3,250 by the Central Government recently and expressed the view that the move would immensely encourage the workers at the grassroots. The Chief Minister further said that the State Health Department is implementing several initiatives to reduce maternal and infant mortality and averred that ‘Atal Amrit Abhiyaan’ and ‘Ayushmaan Bharat – Jan Arogya Yojana’ would significantly boost healthcare for the children, pregnant women and mothers. He said that under Chief Minister Free Diagnostic Scheme, disadvantaged people of the society were hugely benefitted. Sonowal also mentioned about ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ abhiyaan aimed at securing the future of girl child and financial assistance of Rs. 12,000 to be provided to pregnant women of tea garden areas for the purpose of nutritional supplement. He also made a call to the Anganwadi Workers and Helpers to take forward the welfare schemes to all the targeted beneficiaries. Water Resources Minister Keshav Mahanta, Social Welfare Minister Pramila Rani Brahma, Minister of State for Health Pijush Hazarika also spoke on the occasion. MLAs Dimbeswar Das, Angoorlata Deka, Siladitya Deb, Rupak Sarma, Ramakanta Deuri, Additional Chief Secretary Jishnu Baruah, Director Social Welfare Debeswar Malakar, Deputy Commissioners of Nagaon, Morigaon and Hojai and several other dignitaries were present in the programme.