The Department of Social and Tribal Welfare, Leh, under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), in collaboration with the Sri Sathya Sai Annapoorna Trust, Karnataka, launched a Morning Nutrition Programme benefiting 1,000 Anganwadi children of Leh on November 11.

The programme was inaugurated in the presence of Kunzes Angmo (JKAS), Director, Social and Tribal Welfare Department, Ladakh; A.G. Zargar (JKAS), District Programme Officer, ICDS Leh; Allath Santosh, National Manager, and Chandan Kumar, Regional Manager, Sri Sathya Sai Annapoorna Trust.

Director Kunzes Angmo appreciated the Trust’s initiative, emphasizing that such partnerships play a vital role in improving the nutritional status of children, especially in remote and high-altitude regions like Ladakh.

DPO A.G. Zargar assured full cooperation and regular monitoring to ensure effective implementation of the programme. He expressed gratitude to the Trust for extending its support to Anganwadi children and noted that the initiative would greatly contribute to their overall health, growth, and well-being.

As part of the launch, the Director and DPO distributed chocolate and milk-based nutritional drinks to Anganwadi children, symbolically marking the start of the Morning Nutrition Programme.

Speaking on the occasion, National Manager Allath Santosh shared that the Sri Sathya Sai Annapoorna Trust, established in 2015, has been working to eliminate child hunger and ensure holistic nutrition for school-going children. The Trust currently operates in 25 States and 4 Union Territories, including Ladakh, and plans to cover 118 Anganwadi Centres in the region, benefiting around 1,000 children in the initial phase.

The event was attended by CDPO Leh, supervisors, Anganwadi workers, and children, marking a significant step towards improving early childhood nutrition in the Union Territory.