UN World Food Programme, India Director Meets Deputy CM Diya Kumari to Discuss Child Nutrition and Women Empowerment

Jaipur, Oct 2025 : Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Women and Child Development Diya Kumari met with Ms. Elisabetta Faure, Country Director of the United Nations World Food Programme (India), and her team at the Secretariat on Thursday. The meeting focused on strengthening child nutrition and women’s empowerment initiatives in Rajasthan.

During the discussion, details were shared about the state government’s flagship programmes for women and girls, including the Lado Incentive Scheme, the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana with additional state support, and the Nutri Kit Scheme.

Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari said it was both encouraging and inspiring that collaboration with the UN World Food Programme (India) could open new possibilities—from supporting self-help groups to ensuring better nutrition and education for children. “Together, we are moving steadily toward building a healthy and empowered Rajasthan,” she stated.

Ms. Faure expressed her gratitude to the Women and Child Development Department of the Rajasthan Government for its ongoing cooperation. She also commended both the Government of India and the Rajasthan Government for their innovative initiatives in women and child nutrition, as well as preschool education.

Mahendra Soni, Principal Secretary, Women and Child Development Department, informed that the UN World Food Programme (India) is providing technical assistance for supplementary nutrition supply across five projects in Jaipur. He added that significant innovations are underway in preschool education in the state.

Soni also highlighted that with the state government’s additional allocation of ₹275 crore and CSR partnerships, major infrastructure upgrades for Anganwadi centres are being undertaken. He noted that further discussions on measures to enhance child nutrition and women’s empowerment will be held between the ICDS Director and the WFP (India) team.

The meeting was attended by ICDS Director Vasudev Malawat, Dr. Sharika Yunus Khan (MD & Head, Nutrition and School Nutrition Unit), and Research Head Paramjyoti Chattopadhyay.

Invitation to Visit Rajasthan’s Tourist Sites:
Deputy Chief Minister, who also holds the Tourism portfolio, shared updates on recent tourism developments in the state and extended an invitation to Ms. Elisabetta Faure to visit Rajasthan’s prominent tourist destinations.