Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Irani today gave away the Poshan Abhiyaan Awards for the year 2018-19 in different categories at a function in New Delhi.

The awards were given to the States, Districts, Blocks and Anganwadi Workers for their contributions in scaling up the Abhiyaan and ensuring that it reaches every household in the country. Poshan Abhiyaan is a multi – ministerial convergence mission with the vision to address malnutrition with a targeted approach by 2022 across the country.

Speaking on the occasion, Mrs Smriti Irani said, as many as 363 awards worth 22 crore rupees were presented to the awardees. She expressed hope that with the help of all the stakeholders, the challenges of malnutrition will be addressed and the country will become malnutrition-free.

She said, a month-long Poshan Abhiyaan will begin from next month in which the government has set a target to connect 44 crore people. She said, 22 crore people were added through this programme during the last year.

On the occasion, Minister of State for Women and Child Development, Debasree Chaudhuri said, the exercise to combat the problem of malnutrition needs active involvement of all  the District  Collectors. She said, it is required to promote the understanding and capacity of District Administrations in nutrition and nutrition-based policies.