Highlighting the importance of child nutrition and preventive healthcare, Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan on Wednesday directed the Health Department to ensure proper treatment and continuous follow-up for children identified with anaemia in the state.
The directions were issued during a meeting of the State-Level Implementation and Monitoring Committee for the Prime Minister’s Nutrition Power Generation (PM-POSHAN) scheme held at the Secretariat under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary.
During the review meeting, officials briefed the Chief Secretary on the implementation status of the PM-POSHAN scheme, which aims to improve the nutritional status of school-going children through mid-day meals and supplementary nutrition support.
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Focus on Monitoring and Accountability
Emphasising the need for stronger monitoring mechanisms, Bardhan instructed officials to conduct social audits in as many schools as possible under the PM-POSHAN Yojana. He also directed departments to submit compliance reports detailing deficiencies identified during the audits and the corrective measures taken at the district level.
The Chief Secretary stressed that health screenings in schools should not remain a routine exercise but must lead to timely medical intervention and long-term monitoring of affected children.
Officials said the state government is focusing on strengthening coordination between the Health and Education departments to improve nutrition outcomes and ensure effective implementation of welfare schemes for children.
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