Women and Child Development Department Playing Key Role in Addressing Malnutrition: DC Sachin Gupta

Rohtak, April 8, 2026: Deputy Commissioner Sachin Gupta said that the Women and Child Development Department is playing a vital role in improving the nutritional status of women and children in the district, particularly in addressing severe and moderate malnutrition.

Chairing the monthly review meeting at the Camp Office, he informed that out of 166 severely malnourished children identified in October 2025, 135 have been successfully brought out of malnutrition, while 583 out of 975 moderately malnourished children have also shown improvement. In March, 31 severely malnourished and 392 moderately malnourished children were identified. He directed officials to take all necessary measures to further improve the nutritional status of these children and to actively counsel families on the importance of balanced diets.

The Deputy Commissioner informed that 1,004 Anganwadi centres are operational in the district, with 381 nutrition gardens (Poshan Vatika) being run to promote access to fresh and nutritious food. He reviewed the availability of basic facilities at Anganwadi centres and directed that works related to drinking water and sanitation be completed in mission mode.

He highlighted that the department is strengthening the capacity of Anganwadi workers with the support of Rocket Learning NGO, using digital tools and activity-based learning methods for children aged 3–6 years. Parent-Teacher Meetings are also being conducted at centres to enhance community participation.

Emphasizing the importance of early childhood, he noted that the first 1,000 days of a child’s life are critical for brain development and learning, and directed that all related interventions be implemented effectively.

He instructed that all activities under the 8th Poshan Pakhwada (April 9–23, 2026) be conducted actively, focusing on maternal and child nutrition, early stimulation for children below three years, play-based learning for children aged 3–6 years, reducing screen time, and strengthening community support for Anganwadi centres.

The Deputy Commissioner also directed that cases of abortions in private health institutions be reviewed where required, especially in cases where the first child is a girl, to ensure compliance with legal provisions.

He emphasized continuous awareness regarding the One Stop Centre for women, and informed that 8 child marriages were prevented out of 11 reported cases in March. He also directed awareness drives on menstrual hygiene, cyber safety under the Digital Sakhi initiative, and strict monitoring of cases related to the POCSO Act and domestic violence.

The meeting was attended by District Programme Officer Deepika Saini, District Child Protection Officer Kuldeep Singh, District Protection Officer Karminder Kaur, CDPOs, and other officials.