Varanasi: The Kashi CSR Conclave, held recently, witnessed the signing of MoUs amounting to more than ₹80 crore for development projects backed by various companies. Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, who graced the event, highlighted the urgent need to tackle malnutrition, end child marriages, and ensure effective utilisation of government funds provided to pregnant women. She stressed the importance of child psychologists to promote children's mental health and underscored the role a positive home environment plays in the development of unborn children.
Governor Patel encouraged parents to prioritise the education of their daughters and to ensure they benefit from schemes like Ayushmaan Bharat. She urged people to pledge against marrying daughters before the age of 20 and called for the elimination of gender-based discrimination. Discussing the National Education Policy, she emphasised the goal of enrolling 50% of children in higher education by 2030. The Governor also called for continued efforts in developing Uttar Pradesh’s eight aspirational districts and urged corporate support for Anganwadi centres in Sonbhadra.
During the event, the Governor distributed kits to five Anganwadi centres and awarded certificates to nine Anganwadi workers for their efforts in combating malnutrition. Laptops were also provided to five beneficiaries under the Chief Minister’s Child Service Scheme, and ISO certificates were awarded to Kasturba Gandhi schools and state children’s homes.
The Governor inaugurated a cervical and breast cancer screening programme for women and girls in urban areas under Project Isha, in collaboration with the Madan Mohan Malviya Cancer Centre. She also flagged off a senior citizen-friendly van funded by the State Bank of India. District Panchayat President Poonam Maurya acknowledged the role of Anganwadi workers in improving child and maternal health, while Mayor Ashok Tiwari highlighted the ₹65,000 crore worth of development projects underway in Varanasi, appreciating the contribution of Anganwadi workers in tackling anaemia.
District Magistrate S. Rajalingam expressed gratitude to the Governor for her focus on Varanasi, noting that the district's severe malnutrition rate had dropped from around 7% to 2%. Chief Development Officer Himanshu Nagpal presented the MoU exchanges and outlined past CSR initiatives. Under the Kashi Samriddhi Abhiyan, over 67,000 anaemic women received folic acid, iron supplements, and care, with 58,000 women recovering from anaemia. Nutrient-rich grains were also distributed to children to fight malnutrition.
Seven MoUs were signed at the conclave, including ₹27.5 crore by ONGC, ₹12 crore by Power Grid, ₹20 crore by REC for rural development, ₹10 crore by the Hans Foundation, ₹3.5 crore by CWC for health initiatives, ₹1.4 crore by GAIL India for ICDS, and ₹90 lakh by NCL for basic education. /BI
