Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav today launched the State Nutrition Mission and expressed confidence that the project would help end malnutrition among children and women as concerted efforts helped curb polio in the state.
“As we have managed to free the state of polio, the nutrition mission will also meet its objective,” the chief minister said after launching the mission and releasing its logo at a programme at his official residence here.
Akhilesh said when his state embarks on a new mission it, “with the help of experienced and good officials, leaves behind other states and achieve big success”.
Citing works done by his government, he asked if any other state has undertaken such development works like metro rail in three cities, ambulance services and the Samajwadi Pension Yojna which would benefit 40 lakh poor women.
Claiming maternal mortality rate and infant mortality rate have come down in the state in the past two years, Akhilesh said like the state achieving success in other fields it would also counter the challenge of malnutrition by taking this campaign to villages and backward areas.
The chief minister sought the media's cooperation to spread awareness about the mission. Assuring all help on the part of the government and officials, he said that if required government will take strong measures in achieving the goal.
All leaders present on the occasion stressed that as malnutrition was a serious issue it should be dealt properly, with rising above the political consideration. Samajwadi Party MP from Kannauj Dimple Yadav, wife of the Chief Minister, said the situation was very serious as 42 children out of 1,000 under the age of one year die due to malnutrition.
RLD leader Jayant Choudhury demanded a helpline for the mission so that the common people can approach them with any problem or query.
