In a landmark achievement under Mission Shakti 5.0, Kanpur has created history by leading an unprecedented anemia-free campaign.
On Wednesday, over 9.04 lakh women, adolescent girls, and students across 4,500 centres in the district simultaneously consumed iron folic acid tablets, transforming the symbolic “red pill” into an emblem of health and empowerment.
The massive turnout marks one of the largest coordinated health drives in Uttar Pradesh, with the campaign targeting 14 lakh women in total. The initiative, officials said, reflects a growing movement that extends beyond women’s safety to encompass their health, confidence, and overall well-being.
District Magistrate Jitendra Pratap Singh lauded the efforts of frontline workers and departmental teams for turning the campaign into a people’s movement. “Mission Shakti 5.0 has evolved into a mission for women’s health and confidence. Recognizing the dedication of field staff will further encourage them to achieve an anemia-free Kanpur,” he said.
The district administration has announced that staff members and departments achieving the highest outreach will be honored in a felicitation ceremony on Monday.
Among those commended for their leadership and coordination are CDO Diksha Jain, CMO Dr. Haridutt Nemi, JSI Huda Zehra, and teams from the Health, Education, Panchayati Raj, and Anganwadi departments.
At Vikas Bhawan, Chief Development Officer Diksha Jain led women workers in collectively taking the iron tablets, symbolizing that a healthy woman forms the backbone of a healthy family and society. ACMO Dr. Udaybhan Singh noted that the district has already covered over 9 lakh women in the first phase and aims to reach all 14 lakh targeted beneficiaries soon.
Medical experts highlighted the urgency of the campaign, citing alarming statistics from the National Health Survey, which show that around 57% of girls aged 15–17 and 60% of women under 50 suffer from anemia. Dr. Piyush Mishra of Kashiram Hospital said the campaign brings genuine relief, while Dr. Ruchi Jain, CMS of Dufferin Hospital, emphasized that iron supplements are crucial during pregnancy and the postpartum period, helping build stronger, healthier families.
From schools and villages to Anganwadi centers, the campaign sparked widespread enthusiasm.
Women and students gathered in large numbers at SN Sen College, HB Women’s College, DAV College, Narwal PHC, Dufferin Hospital, Kashiram Hospital, Barra-Govindnagar CHC, Ghatampur-Bilhaur Panchayat Bhawan, and centers in Bithoor and Shivrajpur. Schoolgirls summed up the spirit of the day, saying, “The pill may be small, but its impact is immense.”