'Potth Laika' initiative transforms child nutrition in Rajnandgaon district
56.93% of children in Rajnandgaon free from Malnutrition in five months.
The 'Potth Laika' (Healthy Child) initiative, launched in the Rajnandgaon district of Chhattisgarh, has made a remarkable impact on combating malnutrition, with 56.93 percent of children now free from malnutrition in just five months.
This achievement is a significant milestone at the national level, highlighting the district's success in improving child health and nutrition.
Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai praised Rajnandgaon's effort, calling it an inspiration for the entire nation. He emphasized that the initiative marks a crucial step towards eliminating malnutrition and ensuring a healthier future for generations to come.
He further assured that the Potth Laika initiative will continue until every child in the district is free from malnutrition. Plans are also in place to extend the program across the entire state to turn malnutrition children into healthier children.
The campaign, launched in June 2024, is the result of a collaboration between the district administration, UNICEF, and ABIS. It focuses on improving children's health while raising awareness about nutrition within the community. Despite an abundance of food in Rajnandgaon, many families lacked knowledge about proper nutrition and balanced diets, which led to widespread malnutrition. The district administration took proactive steps to address this issue and root out malnutrition through the Potth Laika initiative.
To kickstart the program, 241 Anganwadi centers were selected for the highest concentration of malnourished children. A total of 3,413 children were identified across these centers, with 323 categorized as severely malnourished (SAM) and 1,080 as moderately malnourished (MAM).
Staff from the Women and Child Development Department, Health Department, and the National Rural Livelihood Mission received intensive training from UNICEF. They then engaged the community in nutrition counseling, an essential aspect of the initiative's success.
A key component of the campaign was the Palak Chaupal, a weekly community meeting held every Friday. Parents, local leaders, pregnant women, and villagers gathered to discuss nutrition and monitor children's weight. This active community involvement played a pivotal role in the program바카라™s effectiveness.
The results have been impressive: 1,943 out of 3,413 children have been brought out of malnutrition in just five months. This includes 243 severely malnourished (SAM) and 794 moderately malnourished (MAM) children. This success was achieved through continuous consultation and monitoring, demonstrating the power of collective effort.
In October 2024, the introduction of the Augmented Take Home Ration (ATHR) further strengthened the program, significantly enhancing the nutritional levels of children in Rajnandgaon and Dongargaon development blocks, said Women and Child Development Department official Gurpreet Kaur.
The Potth Laika initiative has proven that even large-scale problems like malnutrition can be tackled through effective administration and public participation. Beyond improving children's health, the initiative is also educating the community about nutrition, and fostering a healthier society.
This innovative model of collaboration and community involvement offers hope for eliminating malnutrition across the nation.
