POONCH: The Aspirational Block Mankote of District Poonch (Jammu & Kashmir) has earned special recognition at the Regional Best Practices Seminar (North) organized by NITI Aayog under the Aspirational Districts & Blocks Programme (ADP/ABP) held at Varanasi.
Representing the District, Pankaj Magotra (Additional District Development Commissioner Poonch) and Ijaz Ahmed (Block Development Officer Mankote) presented the Nutrition Use Case titled “A Jan Andolan for Nutrition and Community Well-Being” — a model that has achieved remarkable improvement in community health outcomes despite the block’s remote border location.
The initiative was further strengthened by the guidance, encouragement and unwavering support of Ashok Kumar Sharma, District Development Commissioner Poonch. His proactive leadership, strategic direction and focus on fostering inter-departmental collaboration were crucial in enabling Mankote Block to achieve its ambitious health and nutrition objectives. The Deputy Commissioner’s commitment to nurturing innovation, empowering field-level officers, and prioritizing community well-being played a pivotal role in making the Nutrition Use Case a resounding success and a model worthy of national recognition.
The Nutrition use case was jointly conceptualized and prepared by Aspirational Block Programme Fellow (ABPF) Ajaz Ahmed and ICDS Supervisor Nahima Kouser. Their tireless efforts in community mobilization, field-level convergence and innovative program design were instrumental in making Mankote’s initiative a replicable model of excellence under the ABP.
The key achievements of the Block Mankote Nutrition Model include Institutionalized Health & Nutrition Camps across villages near the Line of Control (LoC); timely detection and management of high-risk pregnancies, ensuring safe motherhood; Mass NCD screening and lifestyle awareness drives, promoting preventive healthcare and Community-led nutrition education, empowering women and families towards better dietary practices.
The initiative has significantly improved maternal and child health indicators, strengthened inter-departmental convergence, and enhanced community awareness on nutrition and well-being.
The model was featured in the ADP/ABP Best Practices Compendium – Northern Region, launched during the seminar inaugurated by Rohit Kumar, Additional Secretary & Mission Director, ADP/ABP, NITI Aayog.
The seminar brought together officers and development partners from Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir, highlighting field-level innovations driving India’s transformation journey.
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