AnyTime News 
Focus on First 1,000 Days: Minister Baby Rani Maurya Flags Off Sambhav Campaign’s 6th Phase
By Pooja Srivastava, Anytime News Network
In a major push towards strengthening health and nutrition for women and children, the Uttar Pradesh government officially launched the ‘Sambhav Abhiyan 6.0’ on Thursday. Minister for Women and Child Development, Baby Rani Maurya, inaugurated the state-level event at a local hotel in Lucknow.
This year, the campaign’s core theme is “Nutrition Security from Pregnancy to Childhood,” which heavily focuses on the first 1,000 days of a child’s life (270 days of pregnancy and 730 days after birth). Experts emphasize that 80% of a child’s brain develops during this critical period.
Breaking traditional silos, five key government departments—ICDS, Health, Panchayati Raj, Planning, and Information—have joined forces for this edition. The campaign will run from July to September across all 75 districts of UP. During the event, the Minister distributed new Take-Home Ration (THR) packets and launched a special video series featuring celebrity Chef Ranveer Brar to promote nutritious recipes made from government ration.
Highlighting past successes, ICDS Director Harshita Mathur revealed that during the last five years, an average of 1.7 crore children were screened monthly, and 81% of severely malnourished children were successfully cured. To motivate the ground staff, officials and Anganwadi workers from five top-performing districts—Kanpur Nagar, Farrukhabad, Shravasti, Chandauli, and Varanasi—were honored.
Additional Chief Secretary Leena Johri and NHM Director Dr. Pinki Jowel stressed that this inter-departmental coordination would significantly reduce maternal mortality rates. Supported by UNICEF, the event concluded with a vote of thanks by Deputy Director Seraj Ahmad, marking a hopeful step toward a healthier future for UP.
