MAHASAMUND,CG: Director General of NITI Aayog (VMA) and State Nodal Officer Aspirational Development Program and Secretary in-charge of the Mahasamund district in Chhattisgarh, Nidhi Chhibber underlined that traditional business like weaving of bamboo by Kamar and Sambalpuri saree by weavers in Basna area should be linked with skill development training and special efforts should also be made to sell the products.

She was holding a review meeting with district officers in the Collectorate meeting room on Thursday to discuss the progress of aspirational indices.

She reviewed the work and achievements of the aspirational district in various indices, health and nutrition, education, agriculture and water resources, skill and financial inclusion, infrastructure and other areas and suggested further better performance to improve the ranking.

Chhibber underlined the need for better coordination. Awareness in the field of health and nutrition is very important. Better efforts are being made to prevent diseases like sickle cell, work should be done by running a campaign to identify it. Malnourished children are monitored intensively in Anganwadi centres, but monitoring slows down after joining school. Teachers should also make necessary efforts. To improve the field of education, reforms should be done as per various survey reports.

Chhibber said that indices have been determined for various departments for aspirational districts. The targets are to be achieved as per those indices. He directed the officers of the concerned departments to make special efforts to achieve the set targets. Also, special training should be given for data entry so that the entry can be done correctly.

The Pithora development block in the district has been selected. To improve the indices, Chhibber has asked for admission in NRC keeping in mind the low weight of children at birth and continuous monitoring through nutrition tracker. A meeting of women and child development, health and Mitanins should be held.

Collector Prabhat Malik informed the district that 292 gram panchayats have been selected for TB free panchayat and declared as TB free villages. The figure is the highest in the state. In the field of health, 3,66,801 sickle cell tests have been conducted in the sickle cell screening campaign. Out of which disability certificates have been issued to 539 patients, it is also the highest in the state. Girls and women are being continuously checked for anaemia. There are 1699 Anganwadi centers operating on their own buildings in the district. In these Anganwadi centres, 27 percent electrification and arrangements of fans and coolers have been made to avoid heat. Also, in all the Anganwadi centers, food is cooked using gas and stove. Reports are being sent to patients directly through their mobile numbers. 200-250 e-lab reports are being delivered to patients every day.