Prayagraj: Baby shower of 600 pregnant women performed under Mission Shakti Abhiyan

PRAYAGRAJ: Under the state government’s

Mission Shakti campaign

, the officials of

the Integrated Child Development Services

(ICDS) performed

baby shower ceremony

for around 600

pregnant women

at

several anganwadi centres

across 20 blocks of the district on Tuesday.

The women were given red chunris, a basket full of fruits and green vegetables and iron tablets among other things.

The anganwadi workers apprised the pregnant women about the nutritious diet that they should take during pregnancy for sound health of the mother and the child. Women were also made aware of the different welfare schemes for women and girls launched by the state government.

The Mission Shakti campaign that has been launched across UP campaign aims to make women aware of their rights, safety, security and the welfare programmes they are entitled to avail. The anganwadi workers under the child development plans have been interacting with the women and briefing them about welfare programmes and schemes.

The campaign, that has been divided in seven phases, will continue for six months. The first phase launched on October 17 will end on October 25. The last phase will be held in April next year.

District programme officer (DPO) Manoj Kumar Rao told TOI, “Under the Mission Shakti Abhiyan, the baby shower ceremony was performed at several anganwadi centres. The objective behind the ceremony was to emphasize on the importance of taking a nutritious diet during pregnancy so the women are healthy enough to deliver healthy babies.”

“Apart from fruits and green vegetables, iron tablets were also given to them,” he added.

At an anganwadi centre in

Baswar village

, the baby shower ceremony of a nine-month pregnant woman, Vidhyawati Patel, along with nine other women, was performed. A five-month pregnant woman, Hema, was also part of the baby shower ceremony that was held at Poorekhagan anganwadi centre. The women expressed their happiness over the initiative and acknowledged the need of awareness for a nutritious diet among women at the grassroots.