Mumbai: Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Sunday distributed ‘Maternal Nutrition Kits’ in Mumbai on the occasion of Mother’s Day and emphasised the importance of ensuring the health and well-being of mothers and newborn children.
Addressing the gathering during the event in north Mumbai, Goyal said the specially-designed kits had been prepared keeping in mind the nutritional and essential needs of women during the final stages of pregnancy, as well as the immediate requirements of newborn babies.
“These kits have been thoughtfully curated to address every essential requirement for mothers and sisters during the final stages of pregnancy. It also takes into account the necessities for the newborn during their initial days, thereby ensuring the good health of both the mother and the child,” he said.
The Union Minister stressed that the health of mothers and children was directly linked to the future of the country.
“A healthy child born to a healthy mother will be the next generation. This is the future of India, and India’s future is going to be the future of the world,” he added.
Goyal further said that the initiative would be expanded across different localities in north Mumbai so that women belonging to lower-middle-income families do not face hardship during pregnancy and childbirth.
He also highlighted several initiatives undertaken by the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for women’s empowerment and self-reliance.
“By providing tap water to every household, our sisters no longer have to carry heavy loads of water from wells or rivers on their heads. To ensure that every girl receives a good education, scholarships must be provided, and every facility must be made available. A good toilet should also be built in schools and colleges so that sisters do not face any difficulties, providing sanitary pads,” Goyal said.
He added that such welfare initiatives were helping women become ‘Atmanirbhar’ and enabling them to participate more actively in the country’s development journey.
During the programme, the Union Minister also praised the growing participation and achievements of women in various sectors and said they were emerging as strong contributors to national development.
“Our mothers and sisters are making rapid strides in every field; embodying the divine forms of Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Durga, they will not spare anyone who attempts to commit any wrongdoing,” he said.
Interacting with the media on the sidelines of the event, the Union Minister extended greetings on the occasion of Mother’s Day and underlined the role of women in India’s progress towards becoming a developed nation.
“In the journey of making India a Viksit Bharat, the contribution of our women is the most important. Generation after generation, they have contributed to preserving India’s heritage and cultural legacy,” he said.
On the broader objective behind the initiative, Goyal said the nutrition kits were specifically aimed at supporting women from economically weaker and lower-middle-income households.
“These kits will be distributed on a monthly basis to ensure the continued well-being of both the mother and the child. This initiative is currently being implemented across the entire North Mumbai region,” he said.
(IANS)
