Shillong, Sep 17 : With proper guidance and training anyone can have a healthy and balanced diet, Mairang MDC Batskhem Ryntathiang said at a programme as part of the month-long celebrations of Rashtriya Poshan Maah (National Nutrition Month) in Pyndengumiong, Mairang in West Khasi Hills.
The programme for anganwadi workers, ASHAs and farmers was organised by the district Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK, Farm Science Centre).
“We, as people who live in remote areas, think that it is difficult to attain a nutritional diet for children, pregnant women, lactating mothers as compared to people who live in urban areas,” Ryntathiang said. “However, this programme plays a very important role as it helps us understand that anyone can get a healthy and balanced diet with proper guidance and training.”
The nutritional importance to vulnerable groups like infants, adolescent girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers was explained by Senior Scientist and KVK West Khasi Hills head L Warjri, who also emphasised the importance of nutritional diets sourced with locally available materials to attain nutritional security.
Events by KVK West Khasi Hills in the month-long celebration include seed and planting material distribution, capacity building, awareness and training programmes with a focus area on nutri gardens in farmers’ fields, schools, terrace gardens and rooftop gardens.
Ryntathiang along with Sub-Divisional Officer A Nongbri also distributed seeds and planting materials to farmers, anganwadi workers and ASHAs.
This was followed by a technical session by Y Sohtun through talks on models of nutria gardens, biofortified varieties in nutrition and packaging practices of vegetable and horticultural crops while the talk on nutri thalis for a balanced diet was given by nutritionist W Marwein.
