Under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s guidance, the eighth National Nutrition Month and the ‘Swastha Nari, Sashakt Parivar’ initiative are being actively executed as part of Mission Shakti, emphasizing the health, dignity, and empowerment of women and children. This campaign reflects the primary goals of Mission Shakti—safety, respect, and self-reliance—by empowering women in health, education, economic independence, and social dignity. The Bal Vikas Evam Pustahar Vibhag is offering health and nutrition services to pregnant and lactating women, focusing particularly on adolescent girls through education in nutrition, health, and life skills.
Under the Supplementary Nutrition Program, self-help groups are involved in producing and distributing nutritious food, enhancing women’s economic status, and improving family income and social recognition, thus advancing the vision of self-reliance outlined in Mission Shakti. To promote nutrition, rallies and panchayats are being held throughout the state. In Gorakhpur, Charu Chaudhary, Vice President of the Uttar Pradesh State Women’s Commission, led a Nutrition Panchayat at the Vikas Bhawan auditorium and launched a large nutrition rally featuring approximately 200 enthusiastic Anganwadi workers. The rally conveyed Nutrition Month messages through motivating slogans. The campaign also included comprehensive programs like Annaprashan (the first feeding of infants) and Godh Bharai (a baby shower for expectant mothers).
Competitions among Anganwadi workers showcased millet-based recipes and promoted local superfoods like amla and moringa, along with recommendations to lower salt and sugar intake. A nutrition quiz competition, organized in partnership with UNICEF, further enhanced community involvement and awareness. Members of the State Women’s Commission were instrumental in energizing the campaign in districts such as Gonda, Kasganj, Rampur, and Mirzapur, participating in women’s seminars and nutrition programs to spread Mission Shakti’s message of health, education, financial independence, and social dignity at the grassroots level. Various welfare initiatives from the Women’s Welfare Department, including the Chief Minister’s Kanya Sumangala Yojana, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Women’s Helpline, One Stop Centers, and the Destitute Pension Scheme, are significantly benefiting women and children.
Support services like women’s helplines, Police Stations, and shelter homes provide safety and assistance to thousands of women daily. Additionally, initiatives to boost women’s labor force participation, enhance childcare, and promote rehabilitation are visibly transforming lives. Through Mission Shakti 5.0, the Yogi government’s campaign is empowering women to live confidently and safely while strengthening family and social structures. The collaborative efforts of ICDS, UNICEF, and self-help groups are paving the way for women to become empowered citizens by integrating nutrition, health, and economic independence. By spreading the Mission Shakti message to every village and town, the campaign is making significant progress towards a healthier, self-reliant, and empowered Uttar Pradesh.