By The Hindu Bureau

Copyright thehindu

Following the nation-wide launch of the ‘Swasth Nari, Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaan’, a women-focused health and nutrition promotion campaign, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, coinciding with his 75th birthday on Wednesday (September 17, 2025), the initiative was rolled out across the Union Territory of Puducherry.

Lieutenant Governor K. Kailashnathan and Chief Minister N. Rangasamy participated in the inauguration of the scheme at Kamban Kalaiarangam where the national launch event was live-streamed.

The dignitaries inaugurated a medical camp at Karikalambakkam Community Welfare Centre via video conferencing to mark the beginning of a 16-day health campaign for women implemented by Department of Health and Family Welfare.

The Lt. Governor and Chief Minister also distributed nutritional kits to pregnant mothers and anti-TB kits to caregivers of TB patients.

On the occasion, Mr. Kailashnathan noted the significant strides taken by Puducherry government for protecting women’s health, especially in lowering the maternal mortality rate.

According to the Lt. Governor, Puducherry had also been awarded the Health Ministry’s Platinum Certificate under the LaQshya (Labour Room Quality Improvement) initiative of the National Health Mission.

Further, around 62,000 young women had been identified and treated for anaemia, Mr. Kailashnathan added.

Complimenting the political leadership and fraternity of medical professionals for the achievements on the maternal care front, he called for further improvements to make Puducherry a model State in delivering health, education, development and family welfare for women.

The Chief Minister underscored the emphasis being accorded to the wellbeing of women across education, health and employment.

He said a significant number of recruits to the vacant posts that have been filled recently were women. In fact, 75% of recruits to the posts of lower division and upper division clerks were women.

Speaker R. Selvam, S. Selvaganabathy, MP, K. Lakshminarayanan, Public Works Minister, C. Djeacoumar, Agriculture Minister, P. Rajavelu, Deputy Speaker, Sharat Chauhan, Chief Secretary, Ghulam Mustafa, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry, A. Muthamma, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Jayanta Kumar Ray, Health Secretary, S. Sevvel, Health Director and S. Govindarajan, Director of State Health Mission Project participated in the event.

The Chief Minister also took part in the launch of the women’s health scheme at Jipmer and opened a campaign kiosk at the Screening OPD and distributed beneficiary cards to women enrolled under ‘Swasth Nari, Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaan.’

He also distributed the ‘Poshan’ package to beneficiaries and issued ABHA and PMJAY cards to them.

The Speaker, V. Vaithilingam, MP, Mr. Selvaganabathy, and V. Aroumougame, Government Whip participated.

Vir Singh Negi, Jipmer Director elaborated on the Institute’s pivotal role as a regional hub for the campaign that would deliver baseline clinical examination, including vital signs, height, weight, and BMI assessment, screening for anaemia, blood pressure, diabetes and breast/cervical cancer, and nutritional assessment-counselling.

The BJP’s Puducherry unit organised a blood donation camp at Indira Gandhi Medical College which was inaugurated by the Lt. Governor in the presence of Home Minister A. Namassivayam.