NCW chief Vijaya Rahatkar highlights importance of Mission Poshan 2.0
New Delhi, July 26 (IANS/WISHAVWARTA) National Commission for Women (NCW) Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar on Sunday highlighted the importance of Mission Poshan 2.0 – Women and Child Development (WCD) Ministry’s flagship national nutrition programme.
In a message on social media, Rahatkar reposted on X a message issued the Ministry that said, “#MissionPoshan2.0 is an important step towards a nourished India. By connecting children, adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating mothers to nutrition, health, and care services, this mission is laying the foundation for an empowered future. #PoshanAbhiyaan.”
As POSHAN Abhiyaan completes eight years, the mission reflects the growing emphasis on convergence, technology-enabled governance and community participation in addressing nutrition challenges. The programme’s evolution demonstrates the importance of coordinated action across sectors, strengthened service delivery platforms and sustained behavioural change efforts in improving nutrition outcomes, said the WCD Ministry.
The transition to Mission Poshan 2.0 underscores a continued focus on improving service quality, expanding early childhood care and strengthening last-mile delivery systems. By integrating nutrition with health, early childhood care, education and community engagement, the mission adopts a comprehensive approach to supporting vulnerable populations.
Nutrition is closely linked to the development of human capital in the country, as improved nutrition contributes to better health, learning outcomes and productivity. As India advances towards the vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047, continued investments in nutrition, early childhood development and service delivery systems will remain critical for building a healthy, productive and resilient population, said the Ministry.
Rahatkar also shared information on a training programme held for administrative and police officers in Maharashtra’s Pune district.
She said, in a post on X on Saturday, “The Leadership Development Training Programme organised for District Magistrates and District Superintendents of Police under ‘Catalysts for Change’ concluded successfully today.”
She said that during the closing session, District Magistrates and District Superintendents of Police were urged to pay special attention to a 10-point action plan to ensure women’s safety, empowerment and respect.
The action plan points listed by Rahatkar included: “Regular audits and effective implementation of women welfare schemes should be ensured; Arrangements should be made for digital monitoring and timely review of all schemes and Appointments should be made expeditiously to all vacant positions, including Protection Officer, Child Marriage Prohibition Officer, and POSH Local Committee.”
The action plan said, “Strong coordination should be established between One Stop Center, Women Helpline, DLSA, Protection Officer, AHTU, Crimes Against Women (CAW) Cell, and counselling services; Quarterly Gender Review Meetings should be mandatorily organised under the chairmanship of the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police and a robust system should be developed for the swift, transparent, and effective resolution of women’s complaints.”
“In cases of crimes against women, FIR, investigation, and charge sheet should be completed in a time-bound manner; Regular gender sensitisation training should be organised for police and related officials and Effective coordination should be established with NGOs, CRP, ASHA workers, and Anganwadi services,” said the action plan shared by Rahatkar.
She said the officials should also conduct extensive public awareness campaigns regarding women’s safety, rights, helplines, and available support services.
On this occasion, Maharashtra’s Additional Director General of Police Ashwati Dorje, former Director General of Police of Uttar Pradesh Praveen Dixit, Member Secretary of the National Commission for Women Sudeep Jain, Pune District Magistrate Jitendra Dudi, Pune Superintendent of Police Sandeep Singh Gill and Chief Executive Officer of Pune Zilla Parishad Gajanan Patil were present, said a statement.
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