As part of the national Poshan Pakhwada 2025 campaign, the Central Bureau of Communication (CBC), Shillong, organized two awareness programmes yesterday, at Rongmesek (Pahamingding) and Pahambirlum villages in Ri Bhoi district. The events saw enthusiastic community participation and highlighted the critical need to integrate traditional dietary knowledge with modern nutritional science and technology to improve the health and well-being of women, children, and adolescents.
A key focus of Poshan Pakhwada 2025 is the first 1,000 days of life—from conception to a child’s second birthday—recognized as a vital window for ensuring lifelong health through proper nutrition and care.
The central session at both venues was conducted by Smt. O. Sumer from the Health Department, who delivered an in-depth talk on the value of traditional Khasi diets and food preparation methods. She underscored the importance of beginning the day with locally available, nutrient-rich foods such as maize, tapioca, red potatoes, sweet potatoes, and yam, traditionally cooked to preserve their nutritional value and build immunity.
She encouraged the inclusion of vegetable medleys, traditional salads such as Muli Khleh and Jhur Khleh, and the use of herbs like pudina and coriander. She advised adding seasonal fruits in their diet and stressed the importance of breastfeeding, infant feeding, and complementary nutrition in the early stages of life.
Her session also addressed the dietary needs of pregnant and nursing mothers, growing children, and adolescents, with a particular focus on fighting anaemia, which affects an alarming percentage of the local population. She provided practical dietary strategies for managing diabetes, hypertension, stress, and other lifestyle-related diseases, underscoring the role of macro- and micronutrient intake, hydration, and dietary balance in promoting overall wellness.
As part of the Suposhit Gram Panchayat Initiative, a Private Registered Troupe (PRT) from CBC Guwahati delivered a captivating performance. The skit, which blended humor, folk storytelling, and education, brought attention to the nutritional needs of women and adolescent girls and warned of the dangers of excessive junk food consumption.
Shri Bithius Taro, Headman of Rongmesek, praised the initiative and urged the community to preserve and practice traditional food knowledge. He highlighted the vital role of local food diversity and called for increased community responsibility in supporting nutrition and health initiatives. He also commended the dedicated work of Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) in bringing nutritional awareness to the grassroots. The Headman and Vice President of Pahambirlung were also present during the second event
Smt. Wanrishisha Pde, Lady Supervisor of ICDS, Umling Block, emphasized the significance of early childhood nutrition and the need for regular growth monitoring. She encouraged beneficiaries to utilize the support available under the ‘1,000-Day Protection Programme’, part of the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS). She also spoke on the effective use of beneficiary tracking modules, management of malnutrition through the CMAM module, and the promotion of healthy lifestyles.
Smt. Dianghun Lyngdoh, ICDS Supervisor, stressed the importance of community engagement through home visits, group discussions, and participatory education. She advocated the use of folk narratives and traditional customs as culturally resonant tools for spreading awareness about health and nutrition.
In his concluding remarks, Assistant Director, CBC Shillong Shri Gopajit Das lauded the commitment of ICDS staff, especially AWWs, for their tireless efforts in ensuring that nutritional services reach every household. He called for sustained collaboration among community members, service providers, and local leadership to fully realize the objectives of the Poshan Abhiyaan.
To foster interactive learning, drawing competitions were organized for school children at both the programmes, encouraging them to express the theme of healthy food and balanced diets through art. Simultaneously, quiz competitions were held among mothers, focusing on topics such as child care, local nutrition, breastfeeding, and hygiene. The quiz served as a fun yet educational tool to reinforce key messages shared during the programme and to celebrate the knowledge of mothers as key nutrition influencers in the household. Awards and certificates of appreciation were distributed at the end of the programmes.
The programmes concluded with a community pledge to adopt nutritious, locally sourced, and traditional foods, and to become ambassadors of health and wellness within their villages. [PIB-S)
