Sri Vijaya Puram, Feb. 24: The Second State Core Committee Meeting on Food, Nutrition, Health & WASH (FNHW) and Gender Interventions under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) was convened today in the Conference Hall of the Directorate of RD, PRIs & ULBs under the Chairmanship of the Director (RD/Panch.)/ State Mission Director, ANIRLM.
The meeting marked a significant step towards institutional strengthening and convergence-driven implementation of FNHW and Gender interventions across the UT of Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Officials/ Representatives of line departments including Health, ICDS, Social Welfare, Education, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services, State and District Legal Services Authority and NGOs namely PRAYAS, International Human Rights and Crime Control Organization, DAKSHIN Foundation in the presence of officials of Rural Development participated in the deliberations.
The Chair emphasized the importance of “Water Conservation” by creating awareness at the community level to ensure proper water usage and long-term sustainability. It was directed that discussions on water-saving practices must be made mandatory during all regular Self-Help Groups, Village Organizations and Model Cluster Level Federation meetings. It was also instructed to strengthen community-led platforms to effectively promote the FNHW (Food, Nutrition, Health & WASH) & Gender Modules with active support from line Departments.
The Director (RD/Panch.)/State Mission Director, ANIRLM, highlighted that FNHW and Gender are cross-cutting priorities under DAY-NRLM and must be integrated into all livelihood and social development interventions. The Chair stressed the importance of capacity building of Community Resource Persons (CRPs), structured IEC campaigns, and outcome-based monitoring to ensure measurable impact at the grassroots level.
The meeting concluded with directions to intensify convergence efforts, conduct regular awareness programmes and health camps and ensure sustained community engagement for improved food security, nutrition, health, sanitation and gender equity outcomes.