Lucknow: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Friday that Ramlala is going to be installed in his own temple on January 22, after 500 years. Prior to this historic occasion, the work of providing nutritious meals, on the lines of mid-day meals, to children aged 3 to 6 years in the state began from Ayodhya, signifying an auspicious beginning, he stated.
Inaugurating the ‘Hot Cooked Meal Scheme’ at the Composite School located at the Police Lines, the CM said, “Well-nourished and healthy children will become the basis of a strong India.”
He also laid the foundation stone of 3401 Anganwadi centers in 35 districts at a cost of Rs 403 crores. Additionally, he inaugurated a transit hostel for police personnel in Ayodhya Reserve Police Lines.
Work done through inter-departmental coordination yields better results
उत्तर प्रदेश के सभी 75 जनपदों में आंगनबाड़ी केंद्रों पर पंजीकृत 03 से 06 वर्ष के बच्चों के लिए आज जो ‘हॉट कुक्ड मील योजना’ प्रारंभ हुई है, इसे प्रभावी बनाना है…
सभी प्यारे बच्चों को शुभकामनाएं! pic.twitter.com/HJIz5ywuX9
— Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) November 24, 2023
In his address, the Chief Minister highlighted that the initiative to provide hot meals with diverse menus on different days, following the model of the Mid-Day Meal, will progress with the mutual coordination of various departments.
Drawing attention to the successful eradication of encephalitis in Eastern Uttar Pradesh, the Chief Minister stated that due to inter-departmental coordination, we were able to control the disease within four years, which claimed the lives of 50,000 children in 40 years. Therefore, it becomes essential that the work on the schemes be done through inter-departmental coordination, which can lead to better outcomes.
Taking care of hundreds of ‘Kanhas’ is a fortunate task
The Chief Minister explained that there are 1.90 lakh Anganwadi centres operating in the state, with more than two crore beneficiaries registered. These centres provide six types of services. For the first time in the state, the auspicious work of providing hot cooked meals to 80 lakh children aged 3 to 6 years is being started.
Addressing the Anganwadi workers and helpers present at the program, the Chief Minister said, “Children are the form of God. You are fortunate because, like Yashoda Ma in the Dwapara Yuga, who nurtured Krishna in his childhood, you are serving and taking responsibility for the nourishment and health of hundreds of Kanhas, contributing to the basis of a strong India. It is your fortune that you have got this opportunity.”
Significant improvement in the health of children
#UPCM @myogiadityanath ने आज जनपद श्री अयोध्या जी से प्रदेश के सभी आंगनबाड़ी केंद्रों पर पंजीकृत 03 से 06 वर्ष के बच्चों को गर्म भोजन उपलब्ध कराए जाने हेतु ‘हॉट कुक्ड मील योजना’ का शुभारंभ किया। साथ ही, ₹403 करोड़ की लागत से 35 जनपदों में निर्मित होने जा रहे 3,401 आंगनबाड़ी… pic.twitter.com/vBLqd4uLWY
— CM Office, GoUP (@CMOfficeUP) November 24, 2023
The Chief Minister mentioned that there were many questions about nutrition schemes in the past. However, significant improvements have been made in the last 6-7 years. There is improvement in the levels of anaemia among children, and notable progress has been observed in cases of underweight, height, and overall weight. There has also been a reduction in the infant mortality rate.
He further said that there is still room for further improvement, and continuous efforts are required. Healthy children are not only the responsibility of the Women and Child Development Department but the Panchayati Raj and Urban Development Department should also be involved in it.
CM personally serves meals to children
Prior to this, the Chief Minister visited the classrooms of the Composite School at the Police Lines, interacted with the children, and took information about their education and school uniforms. He then served food to the schoolchildren.
During the program, CM Yogi watched a short film related to the Hot Cooked Meal Scheme in Anganwadi centres and distributed ‘Poshan bhi Padhayi bhi’ kits to Anganwadi workers and helpers. Additionally, the Chief Minister distributed Shree Anna nutrition plates to the children of Anganwadi centres.
On this occasion, State Government Women Welfare Child Development and Nutrition Development Minister Baby Rani Maurya, Basic Education Minister Sandeep Singh, Minister of State Pratibha Shukla, MP Lallu Singh, Mayor Girish Pati Tripathi, District Panchayat President Roli Singh, MLAs Ved Prakash Gupta, Ramchandra Yadav, and Amit Singh, Principal Secretary of Women and Child Development Department Veena Kumari Meena, and Advisor to the Chief Minister Avnish Awasthi were present.
Now our police officers will not stay in dilapidated buildings and barracks: Yogi
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurated two buildings with 12 floors each for the residence of police officers in Ayodhya. He said that high-quality buildings are being constructed for police officers in all police lines across the state. Additionally, it is the priority of the government to construct good barracks for the policemen to live in all the police stations. Soon, no police officer will be compelled to stay in dilapidated barracks. The government is committed to providing the best facilities to police officers.
