The Ministry of Rural Development’s National Conclave on Food, Nutrition, Health & WASH (FNHW), held today in New Delhi, has marked a significant advancement in prioritizing FNHW initiatives through the Self-Help Group (SHG) network.
In his keynote address, Union Minister of Rural Development and Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, highlighted that realizing a developed India hinges on harnessing the potential of the country’s daughters. He emphasized the importance of focusing on the health and nutrition of SHG members as a transformative step towards achieving the Lakhpati vision. Shri Chouhan urged stakeholders to collaborate in raising awareness about FNHW, with SHG Didis playing a leading role in this initiative.
Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications, Dr. Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, underscored the pivotal role of SHGs in rural transformation, particularly in poverty alleviation and achieving health and nutrition goals. He described FNHW as a revolutionary strategy and called for collective efforts to inspire others, advocating the mantra: Strong women, strong family, strong Bharat!
Dr. Vinod K Paul, Member of NITI Aayog, outlined the Reform, Perform, Transform approach, emphasizing the crucial role of SHG members in this process.
Secretary of Rural Development, Shri Shailesh Kumar Singh, stressed the need for collaboration and convergence among Ministries, Departments, CSOs, and community stakeholders to achieve better outcomes.
Additional Secretary, MoRD, Shri Charanjit Singh, elaborated on the core themes of the Conclave: Sangathan, representing the collective spirit of 10 crore women in 91 lakh SHGs; Samridhi, signifying economic transformation through the goal of 3 crore Lakhpati Didis; and Swasthya, highlighting health as the link between Sangathan and Samridhi.
The conclave featured a panel discussion with various Ministries exploring strategies to enhance convergence for sustained efforts. The event saw participation from key government Ministries, including Health and Family Welfare, Women and Child Development, Drinking Water and Sanitation, Panchayati Raj, as well as representatives from State Rural Livelihoods Missions, community institutions, international organizations, and CSO partners.
The conclave concluded with a renewed commitment to empowering rural women, combating poverty, and building resilient communities across India.
