Chhattisgarh Chief Minister inaugurates ‘Chakmak Abhiyan’ and ‘Sajag Abhiyan’ online for all-round development of aanganbadi students
Raipur: Chief Minister Mr. Bhuppesh Baghel today inaugurated ‘Chakmak Abhiyan’ and ‘Sajag Abhiyan’ for all-round development of children. These campaigns have been jointly initiated by Women and Child Development Department and UNICEF Chhattisgarh. As schools and aanganbadis are closed due to lockdown, children will be given fun-learnning tasks under Chakmak Abhiyan, which they can perform with their parents, grandparents and guardians at home. This will not only help children overcome boredom but also encourage the family members to spend quality time through creative activities.
Likewise, ‘Sajag Abhiyan’ has been launched by Women and Child Development Department, with technical support of UNICEF, to promote the health, nourishment and all-round development process of children. On the occasion, Chief Minister also released the ‘Moddol Daka’ magazine in Halbi and ‘Pahil Danhanka’ magazine in Gondi for children (halbi and gondi are local languages of Chhattisgarh) which means ‘first step’.
On the occasion, Women and Child Development Minister Mrs. Anila Bhendiya, Women and Chil Development Department Secretary Mr. Siddhartha Komal Singh Paredeshi, Director Mr. Janmjay Mahobe, UNICEF Chief Field Officer Chhattisgarh Mr. Job Zachariah were also present. UNICEF India Head Ms Yasmin Ali Haque attended the programme through video conferencing.
Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel, in his address to the inaugural programme, congratulated Women and Child Development Minister Mrs. Anila Bhendiya, department officials-employees and UNICEF representatives on the launch of ‘Chakmak’ and ‘Sajag’ Campaign. He said that during lockdown, children and their parents are at home, as staying home is the best measure to prevent COVID-19 infection. During this time, both these campaigns will engage the children of the state in fun creative activities, helping them to cope with the current circumstances and encouraging them to utilize their time constructively.
Chief Minister spoke to two children of Binjam village of Dantewada Lipika and Kavita Anusuiya and their parents Mrs. Lalita Netam and Mrs. Rajo Bai Netam through video conferencing. Chief Minister asked Mrs. Lalita about distribution of nutritious meals and ready-to-eat food in their area, to which she responded that she has received both. She said that she is enjoying the time at home with her children. They showed Chief Minister the games they play at home. Chief Minister and others present on the occasion applauded and appreciated them. Likewise, Chief Minister spoke to Mrs. Basanti Badaik and her daughter Paridhi Badaik, Mrs. Pushpa CHauhan and her daughter Nancy Chauhan of Purani Toli Jashpur, and Mrs. Kamini Kandra and her son Susheel Kandra, Mrs. Bheeshma Thakur and her daughter Yachna Thakur of Akhra Paatan village of Durg district, enquiring about their well-being and asking them about various schemes and activities.
Women and Child Development Minister Mrs. Anila Bhendiya informed that Chakmak Abhiyan is an important platform for children to express their creativity and joyfully learn through various activities with their family members. Under Sajag Campaign, audio messages about parenting tips, activities, stories, songs etc are being sent on mobiles of aanganbadi workers.
UNICEF India Head Ms Yasmin Ali Haque, in her address to the programme, appreciated the efforts and measures taken under the leadership of Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel to prevent spread of COVID-19 in Chhattisgarh. Ms Haque lauded Chakmak and Sajag programmes saying that both the programmes will help in keeping children engaged in creative activities at home. This innovative model of Chhattisgarh is exemplary for the entire country. Ms Haque mentioned about door-to-door delivery of nutritious meal, ready-to-eat food for children and dry ration under Mukyamantri Suposhan Abhiyan by aanganbadi workers to nearly 24 lakh beneficiaries in Chhattisgarh, and said that this has helped in nourishment of women and children. Ms Haque also praised Chhattisgarh works for distribution of free ration of three months to poor families of state, employment of more than 11 lakh workers under MNREGA, food and shelter camp facility for people in need, during this lockdown period. She added that UNICEF is working as a trusted ally of Chhattisgarh Government.
For Chakmak and Sajag campaigns, aanganbadi workers will be given information about tasks and related guidelines through social media platform facebook and whatsapp, which they will share with children and their parents. Aanganbadi workers will go door-to-door to create awareness about these campaigns and will also share this information with parents on their mobile phones.