A State Level Nutrition Mela was organized by VHAI in collaboration with Civic Engagement Alliance (CEA) and ICCO (Innovative Change Collaborative) on 24th January, 2020 in Guwahati with the objective of showcasing the work done by Women Federation Members, CSOs/NGOs and stakeholder government departments in the area of food and nutrition security and to sensitise people on the importance of nutritious food. The Mela was inaugurated by Dr. J.B. Ekka, Principal Secretary, Panchayat and Rural Development Department, Govt. of Assam in the presence of other dignitaries like Dr. R. M. Dubey, Professor and Head, Centre for SDGs, Govt of Assam, Dr. Gitali Bora, Food and Nutrition Consultant, Poshan Abhiyan, Assam, Ms. Nirjumoni Dutta Bharali, Director (Programme), ICCO and Ms. Anjana Borkataki, Board Member, VHAI among others.
The Nutrition Mela was organised in an Exhibition Format, with Food Stalls showcasing Organic Food, Healthy Food variants and promoting local and regional cuisines. Health camps/stalls with doctors and nutritionists and Information Stalls with short films, digital posters, brochures and flyers were displayed to motivate people to be mindful and adopt safe and nutritious food habits. The fair highlighted the kitchen gardens created by women federation in the premises of Anganwadi Centres and at community level through community participation in the six project districts.
Stalls and display units along with mobile exhibition units were put up by the Food and Nutrition Board, Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI), State Commissionerate for Food Safety, Dairy Development Directorate, National Iodine Deficiency Disorder Control Programme (NIDDCP), National Health Mission, Kamrup Metro, Poshan Abhiyan, Dept. of Horticulture, Womens Federations from Morigaon, Goalpara, Dhubri, Sonitpur, Darrang and Udalguri. A Screening camp was also organised for screening of Diabetes and Hypertension jointly by VHAI and Lal Pathlabs Foundation.