A groundbreaking collaboration between the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD) and the Ministry of Ayush unfolded at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi, today, heralding a new era in nutritional enhancement for adolescent girls.

The esteemed event, graced by Smriti Zubin Irani, Union Minister for Women & Child Development and Minority Affairs, alongside Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister for Shipping & Waterways & Ayush, witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to spearhead a transformative project aimed at curbing anemia among adolescent girls through Ayurvedic interventions.

Under the visionary initiative titled 'Mission Utkarsh,' the MoWCD announced a concerted effort with the Ministry of Ayush and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to introduce effective interventions like Yoga in Polycystic Ovarian Disease (PCOD) among adolescent girls. Minister Irani expressed optimism in India's potential to lead the charge in anemia prevention by providing cost-effective and palatable Ayush medicines, ensuring better compliance and minimal adverse effects.

Echoing the call for an "Anemia Mukt Bharat," Union Minister for Ayush emphasized the imperative of adopting a healthy lifestyle and embracing practices like Yoga for holistic healthcare. Dr. Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary of the Ministry of Ayush, underscored the importance of strategic partnerships and innovative interventions for improved health outcomes, while Mr. Indevar Pandey, Secretary of the Ministry of WCD, commended the traditional healing methodologies offered by Ayush.

The flagship Mission Utkarsh program is poised to benefit over 94,000 adolescent girls aged 14-18 years across five districts - Dhubri, Bastar, Paschimi Singhbhum, Gadchiroli, and Dhoulpur - spanning the states of Assam, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan, respectively. Central Ayurveda Research Institute, Guwahati; All India Institute for Ayurveda, New Delhi; CARI, Bhubaneshwar; Regional Ayurveda Research Institute, Nagpur; and National Institute Ayurveda, Jaipur, will spearhead the project's execution in collaboration with the Public Health Foundation of India's IIPH, Delhi.

Distinguished speakers at the event, including Prof. Rabinarayan Acharya, Director General of CCRAS, and WHO representative Dr. Pushpa Chaudhari, emphasized the pivotal role of Ayush systems in promoting holistic health and the significance of dietary diversity in wellness. Dr. Rajiv Bahl, Director General of ICMR, highlighted ongoing research initiatives on Ayurveda interventions in anemia across premier institutes, underscoring the promising outcomes of research on Yoga in PCOD.

Through this landmark partnership, India is poised to chart a transformative path towards holistic health and well-being, underscoring the power of collaborative efforts in addressing critical healthcare challenges.