Launch of Mission Bharpoor 2.0 to Combat Childhood Malnutrition in Dharamshala

Mission Bharpoor 2.0 Initiated in Dharamshala

Dharamshala - Today marked the official launch of Mission Bharpoor 2.0, a focused initiative aimed at addressing childhood malnutrition, at the Rakkad village and Anganwadi Centre. The event was graced by Shri Hemraj Bairwa, IAS, Deputy Commissioner of Kangra, alongside Dr. Sudesh Kumar Yadav, Director of the CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT) in Palampur.

The inauguration saw participation from local community members, scientists from CSIR-IHBT, including Dr. Mahesh Gupta and Dr. Vidyashankar Srivatsan, as well as officials from the Department of Women & Child Development and the District Programme Officer's office in Kangra.

Mission Bharpoor 2.0 aims to assist 1,140 children in the Kangra district, specifically targeting those aged between 6 months and 5 years who are categorized as Severely Acute Malnourished (SAM), Moderately Acute Malnourished (MAM), stunted, and underweight. During the launch, specially formulated nutrition kits were handed out, which included iron-enriched Spirulina bars, fruit bars, protein- and fibre-rich energy bars, millet panjeeri, and millet-based porridge mixes.

Following the achievements of Phase-I, which reported a recovery rate of nearly 68% in children after nutritional support, this second phase aims to enhance recovery from acute malnutrition while tackling micronutrient deficiencies, protein-energy gaps, and associated health issues.

The initiative also focuses on regular anthropometric assessments, supervised consumption, dietary diversity, complementary feeding, and promoting household hygiene. By integrating scientifically crafted nutritional support with community involvement, Mission Bharpoor 2.0 aspires to guarantee that children in Kangra receive the necessary nutrition for optimal physical growth and cognitive development.