Kumar Bahukhandi
Chhattisgarh Women and Child Development Minister Laxmi Rajwade (fifth from left) joins ministers and delegates during the National Conference-cum-Chintan Shivir organised by the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, New Delhi, on Thursday, October 8, 2026.-Photo: channel24india.com via CG/DPR
Women and Child Development Minister Laxmi Rajwade highlights the state’s Weight Festival initiative and structured healthcare and weekly nutrition plans for children in institutional care.
Key Highlights
- Chhattisgarh’s child nutrition and welfare initiatives receive appreciation at the national conference-cum-Chintan Shivir in New Delhi.
- Women and Child Development Minister Laxmi Rajwade represents the state at the two-day gathering.
- The state’s Wajan Tyohar (Weight Festival) initiative draws attention for encouraging community participation in child growth monitoring.
- Healthcare plans and weekly dietary charts introduced for children living in childcare institutions also receive recognition.
- Discussions focus on Anganwadi services, Mission Vatsalya, women’s safety and empowerment.
New Delhi: Chhattisgarh’s approach to child nutrition, growth monitoring and institutional childcare attracted appreciation at a national conference-cum-Chintan Shivir organised by the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, on Thursday, October 8, 2026.
State Women and Child Development Minister Laxmi Rajwade represented Chhattisgarh at the two-day conference, which brought together ministers, departmental secretaries and senior officials from across the country to exchange experiences and examine ways to strengthen programmes concerning women and children.
Union Women and Child Development Minister Annapurna Devi, Union Minister of State Savitri Thakur and senior Central Government officials attended the deliberations.
Wajan Tyohar brings community participation into focus
One of the initiatives highlighted during the opening session was Chhattisgarh’s Wajan Tyohar, or Weight Festival, which seeks to involve families and communities in monitoring children’s growth and nutritional well-being.
Unlike an approach limited to routine measurements, the initiative emphasises public awareness and participation in identifying nutritional concerns among children.
By encouraging families to pay closer attention to children’s weight and growth, the programme aims to strengthen early identification of nutritional deficiencies and support efforts to address malnutrition.
The initiative received appreciation during the conference for its emphasis on community engagement in child nutrition.
Special attention to children in institutional care
Another aspect of Chhattisgarh’s presentation concerned the healthcare plans and weekly dietary charts developed for children residing in childcare institutions.
These arrangements are intended to bring greater consistency to children’s daily nutrition, health monitoring and overall care.
Structured meal planning can help institutions respond more systematically to children’s nutritional requirements, while health plans provide a framework for monitoring their well-being.
The state’s efforts in these areas were also appreciated during the deliberations.
Laxmi Rajwade represents Chhattisgarh’s welfare priorities
Minister Laxmi Rajwade’s participation provided an opportunity to present Chhattisgarh’s experience in child welfare and nutrition before representatives of other states.
Ministers and senior officials from different states participate in discussions on child nutrition, Anganwadi services, Mission Vatsalya and women’s empowerment during the national Chintan Shivir in New Delhi on Thursday, October 8, 2026-Photo:channel24india.com via CG/DPR
The conference is examining four major areas: improvements in Anganwadi services, Mission Vatsalya, women’s safety and women’s empowerment.
These discussions are intended to identify practical approaches that states can adapt to improve programme delivery and strengthen protection and support systems for women and children.
The exchange of experiences is particularly relevant because child nutrition requires coordinated attention to family awareness, institutional support, regular monitoring and timely intervention.
National dialogue to continue on October 9
The two-day conference will continue on Friday, October 9, with further discussions on the four identified themes.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to participate in the programme on its second day.
For Chhattisgarh, the recognition of Wajan Tyohar and institutional childcare initiatives brings attention to programmes that connect public participation with organised welfare services.
The larger challenge will be to translate these initiatives into measurable improvements in children’s nutritional status, health and long-term well-being.
