UT Level Committee Approves Annual Implementation Plan of Mission Poshan, Mission Vatsalaya & Mission Shakti for 2023-2024

LEH, April 19: The UT Level Committee of Mission Vatsalaya, Mission Poshan, and Mission Shakti met to review the programme implementation under the three Missions steered by the Ministry of Women & Child Development. The annual implementation plan for the financial year 2023-2024 was approved by the Committee during the meeting which was held at the Civil Secretariat Leh, chaired by the Advisor Ladakh and Chairperson of the UT Level Committee, Umang Narula. The meeting discussed strategies to ensure effective implementation of these missions in Ladakh.

Mission Vatsalaya aims to provide care and protection to vulnerable children, while Mission Poshan aims to improve the nutritional status of children, adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating women in the country. Mission Shakti aims to empower women and ensure their safety and dignity.

During the meeting, various strategies were discussed to ensure effective implementation, awareness and strengthening of these missions in Ladakh.

Advisor Narula stressed on convergence with schemes and initiatives of other Departments to achieve the objectives of these missions. He emphasized the importance of involving all stakeholders, including community-based organizations, civil society groups, NGO’s, Panchayats, in the implementation of these missions. He gave directions to devise a monitoring mechanism to track the progress of these missions and to address any challenges that may arise during the implementation. Advisor Narula directed that insurance coverage be provided for Anganwadi workers as a welfare measure for their benefit.

The Advisor emphasized the importance of regularly updating the relevant beneficiary data in the Poshan Tracker app, as per the instructions given, and generating/submitting reports/returns as specified.  He urged all officials and field staff to work with dedication and commitment towards achieving the objectives of these missions and emphasized that the success of these missions would be a step forward in achieving the vision of a healthy, empowered, and prosperous Ladakh.

The Commissioner/Secretary, Social and Tribal Welfare, Padma Angmo shared the progress made under these missions. During the meeting, Padma Angmo provided an update on Mission Vatsalya, which aims to provide family-based care for children in difficult circumstances. She emphasized that the institutionalization is taken up only as a last resort and the scheme promotes sponsorship and foster care for children in need of care and protection.

She also shared that there are three Government run Child Care Institutions in Ladakh besides those run by NGOs all of which are registered with the Department as mandated under the Juvenile Justice Act 2015.

She also informed the Committee that an Observation Home has been established in Leh for Children in conflict with law, as per the Act and an Observation Home shall be established in Kargil district once the proposal is approved under APIP by the Programme Approval Board (PAB) of Ministry of Women & Child Development. 

Notably, an open day care shelter for street children is also being established at Leh, she added. Discussing the progress of Mission Poshan, the Commissioner/Secretary shared that fortified food, including rice, is being served to children at all anganwadi centres in Ladakh. She added that millets will soon be introduced into the children’s diet at these centres.

Additionally, to provide fresh and regular supply of locally grown fruits and vegetables, Padma Angmo shared that polycarbonate Poshan Vatikas are proposed to be set up.

She added that this will also teach children life skills. Further, she shared that last financial year alone around 400 anganwadi workers were sent for training at NIPCCD Mohali. In addition, Padma Angmo provided an update on various initiatives under Mission Shakti aimed at enhancing women’s safety, security, and empowerment.

Two sub-schemes, namely ‘Sambal’ (focusing on safety and security of women)and ‘Samarthya’ (emphasizing women’s empowerment) were discussed. Under the ‘Sambal’ scheme, of Mission Shakti, One-Stop Centres have been established, and a 300-bed working women’s hostel is being constructed in both districts under SDP.

Commissioner/Secretary, PHE and I&FC A.K.Sahu shared that under Jal Jeevan Mission district Leh has achieved 100% Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) coverage in schools and anganwadi centres. Whereas district Kargil has achieved 98.53% in schools and 94.21% in the Anganwadi centres respectively.

To provide creche facility for migrant laborers’ children, the Secretary of Labour and Employment, Kacho Mehboob Ali Khan proposed utilizing Labour Sarais for Social Welfare Department-run creches. This would ensure that the children receive adequate protection, care, and shelter, he added.

Director Social Welfare, Suman Beniwal presented a comprehensive report to the Committee on the progress achieved under Mission Vatsalaya, Mission Poshan, and Mission Shakti, along with presenting the budget summary for UT Ladakh for the FY 2023-2024.  She highlighted that the department is proposing setting up a Specialised Adoption Agency to facilitate adoption of the children who are legally free for adoption. 

Women Helpline and Child Helpline are being established in Ladakh and integrated with the Emergency Response Service No 112 and the proposal includes the manpower requirements for these Helplines. Suman Beniwal presented the proposed budget of Rs 2.69 crore for Mission Shakti, Rs 6.09 crore for Mission Vatsalaya and around Rs 23.93 crores for Mission Poshan.

Officials from District administration Kargil presented the Convergence Action Plan which included identification of key problems related to nutrition; supply and affordability of quality foods; Interpersonal counselling and community mobilization; reduced infection; effective health service delivery; maternal and child health.

The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary, School Education, Sanjeev Khirwar; Commissioner/Secretary, A.K Sahu; Administrative Secretary, PDD Ravinder Kumar; Administrative Secretary, Labour and Employment, Kacho Mehboob Ali; DIG Ladakh, Shiekh Junaid; Director, Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs; Director Social Welfare, Suman Beniwal, and OSD to Commissioner/Secretary, Stanzin Shakya.