This story is from October 7, 2018

She organised baby shower to spread awareness on nutrition

An employee of the women and child welfare department in Yadgir has bagged the Poshan Abhiyan award after she organised a baby shower for pregnant rural women in a bid to introduce them to Centre’s nutritional schemes.
She organised baby shower to spread awareness on nutrition
The Abhiyan is a nationwide strategy to beat malnutrition among children, adolescents and pregnant women
BENGALURU: An employee of the women and child welfare department in Yadgir has bagged the Poshan Abhiyan award after she organised a baby shower for pregnant rural women in a bid to introduce them to Centre’s nutritional schemes.
Gurudevi Hiremath, supervisor, women and child welfare department, Yadgir district, is among nine field functionaries in the state chosen for Centre’s awards announced on Saturday.
The 37-year-old organised seemantha (baby shower) for 101 women in Hunasagi, a newly added taluk of Yadgir, on September 25.

The Abhiyan is a nationwide strategy to beat malnutrition among children, adolescents and pregnant women.
“She was nominated for her excellent work in bringing about awareness among pregnant women, especially in tribal communities. Through such programmes, we can create awareness among families about safe pregnancy and institutional deliveries. Such initiatives help us keep in touch with pregnant women and provide them nutritional food through Mathru Poorna Yojane,” said Meenakshi Patil, child development officer, Yadgir.

Gurudevi has been chosen for the individual excellence category in the implementation of Poshan Abhiyan, as part of which a campaign was held across the country in September to enrich nutritional status.
The award has come as a pleasant surprise to Gurudevi and her colleagues. “I visit one or two anganwadis in my jurisdiction every day. Everything from the quality of food given to children to the hygiene maintained is checked. I enjoy my work. It takes teamwork to make sure the child has eaten well and spends time actively in the centre,” she said.
“Many mothers in Yadgir district don’t bother to feed nutritional food to their children as they are poor. They are hardworking agricultural labourers who care less about nutrition. Six months ago, the number children with malnutrition was 832 in Yadgir and currently it is 602,” said Gurudevi.
‘Honour a surprise for me’
Another awardee Bharathi Annigeri, 33, an anganwadi worker from Belagavi says the award would increase awareness about nutrition among families which send children to anganwadis.
When TOI contacted her, she had no clue that such an award was instituted. “I take care of 26 children (aged below six) at the anganwadi in Devanga Nagar, Belagavi. I make sure that children consume vegetables, egg and milk along with rice and dal that we provide,” says Bharathi. While all the awardees will be taken to Delhi for the ceremony, it will be Bharathi’s first trip outside Belagavi.
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