Mr. S. Visakan, Madurai Corporation Commissioner in his keynote address, appreciated Mr. M.P. Vasimalai for DHAN’s achievements in development sector for the past 24 years adopting Gandhian Philosophy. He also lauded the efforts of DHAN for conducting the Walkathon 2021 events in more than 500 locations across all the four contexts (Urban, rural, coastal and tribal). He assured that, an MoU will be signed soon between DHAN Foundation and Madurai Corporation.
Mr. M.P. Vasimalai, Executive Director, spoke at length about the collaborative efforts of DHAN Foundation with Madurai Corporation, government departments and private institutions that led to the mobilization of entitlements worth Rs. 100 crores which includes PPEs, relief benefits and sanitation facilities to the community. He expressed his gratitude towards Madurai Corporation for benefitting millions of people, maintaining urban water bodies and providing employment opportunities to the youth.
Walkathons with its Themes So Far
Walkathon Regional Updates
Khammam Region
Khammam region organized walkathon event in its four locations viz., Chandragonda, Julurpad, Kothagudem and Palvancha locations. 226 participants – Students, Staff, Vayalagam leaders and members – across the four locations echoed the slogans “Healthy Nutrition Security” during the one-kilometer walk stretch. Village presidents, Agricultural officers, A. E. O and ICDS staff of all the respective locations joined the event along with the participants.
Nutrition garden seeds (800 packets; each packet consists of five different types of seeds - bottle gourd, bitter gourd, ridge gourd, spinach, beans seeds) and masks (226 Nos) were distributed to the members. Dignitaries and staff stressed the importance of dietary diversification, enlightening the members with the incorporation of small millets in their daily diet.
Ramanagara Region
Ramanagara region organized the walkathon across its 29 clusters. 1390 members participating in the event in their respective locations, walked for two kilometers, displaying placards of ‘Nutrition Security’ and raising slogans. Awareness sessions, Vegetable exhibitions, cultural events were organized as a part of the event.
Officials from State Bank of India, Rotary clubs, Cancer Care Foundation, other NGOs and line departments participated in the event encouraging and enlightening members about the need of the hour of the nutrition security.
Ratlam Region
Ratlam region walkathon event was successfully conducted with the participation of 126 Kalanjiam members, 30 adolescent girls, Anganwadi workers of Sailana, Piploda (184 Nos) and DHAN staff and district level line department officials. Entire team of ICDS, Ratlam involved in the walkathon event and took part in concept-seeding of nutrition security among the members.
BCC materials and the efforts of SUHAM were showcased in the form of exhibition at the meeting venue. Tools and equipments pertaining to agricultural drudgery reduction were also displayed during the event.
Mysore Region
DHAN Foundation Mysore region conducted the Walkathon event at Gana Bharathi function hall, situated at the heart of the city. Event commenced at 11 AM and concluded at 2 PM. Federation staff, leaders, DHAN staff and regional team and several officials took part in the event. Mrs. Suhasini, Asst Director of Agriculture, Mysore, Mr. Yaswanth, Chief Manager, Canara Bank, Mysore, Mrs. Pallavi, Chief Manager, State Bank of India, Mysore, Dr. Latha, Dietician, Narayana Hrudayalaya, Mysore, Smt. Sukanya, State movement leader were some of the officials who participated in the event.
Solapur Region
A total of 180 participants – Kalanjiam leaders, members and staff – took part in the walkathon event of Solapur Urban federation. Gyansagar Secondary school’s assembly hall accommodated the members after the rally, wherein the institutional founders, principal chaired the occasion. Rangoli events and essay writing competitions on ‘Nutrition security’ were organized as a part of the event.
“Our community members mostly eat charu-bua (rice and curry) which may be traditional but for long run it does not serve necessary calorie intake for working population like us. We must intake jowar bhakri along with vegetables, shenga poli, shenga ladoo, puranpoli, etc. Every woman must treat their daughter and son equally in terms of food and nutrition, clothes and education”
Smt. Shakuntala Shinde
“Covid has not ended yet, still we must take care of our own health. Every woman must emphasise on wearing masks and continue in taking immunity boosters and taking care of family”
Smt. Dipika Shinde Principal, Gyansagar Secondary school
Tumkur Region
Members and leaders of Kalanjiam groups and FPO shareholders across Tumkur region voiced the ‘Healthy Nutrition Security’ throughout the Walkathon procession. Smt. Madhushree (Health Department), Smt. Mahadevi and Smt. Lakshmi (Police Department, Madhugiri) chaired the meeting.
Celebrating the event, regional team decided to organize ‘Nutrition Food Mela’ across the 653 villages of six federations for creating awareness on nutrition security via promoting small millets, traditional food recipes, nutrition gardens, organic food practices and in-take of greens and fruits.
Vizag Region
Fifty-Nine clusters in six federations of Vizag region participated in the walkathon event. Kalanjiam members, leaders, Adolescent girls, differently abled people – a total of 2193 members – participated in the event across the region.
GVMC Zonal commissioner, Assistant Project Director, Bank Manager, officials from line departments, Rotary clubs and ICDS participated in their respective federations.
During the concluding session, dignitaries talked about the importance of intake of nutrition food for immunity building. Officials also emphasized about the millets intake and change in the lifestyle by incorporating a wholesome food at family level.
