Uttarakhand CM Rawat adopts girl as he launches drive against malnutrition

Leading by example as he launched the anti-malnutrition campaign ‘Poshan Abhiyan’, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat adopted a two-year-old child, Yogita on Wednesday.

The Uttarakhand government will be providing nutritious food to nearly 27,000 malnourished children in the state under the special campaign. Rawat has also instructed ministers, legislators, and officials to adopt malnourished children.

Rawat visited Yogita at her house in Mata Mandir of Dehradun where he also inquired of her education and well-being. The CM said the government is taking all possible steps to eliminate malnutrition.

Women and Child Development (WCD) Minister Rekha Arya, Additional Chief Secretary Radha Raturi, Secretary of WCD Saujanya along with many top officials also adopted children. In this way, about 60 malnourished children have been adopted by public representatives of the state.

“The problem of malnutrition can be eliminated. For this, public participation is very important. People from all sections of society will have to come forward and be a part of the nutrition campaign,” said Rawat. He has also appealed to industrialists and voluntary organisations to come forward for the well-being of malnourished children and cooperate to end this social vice.

Milk is being provided to such children at Anganwadi centres and where it is not available, instructions have been given to provide eggs. The districts of Dehradun, Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar have seen a rise in malnutrition cases.