Poshan Abhiyaan, also known as the National Nutrition Mission, is a flagship program run by the Government of India. Its primary objective is to improve nutritional outcomes for children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers. A crucial component of this initiative is the observance of September as “Poshan Maah” or Nutrition Month, an annual event since 2018.
The activities conducted during Poshan Maah revolve around several key areas, such as antenatal care, optimal breastfeeding, anaemia, growth monitoring, girls education, diet, right age of marriage, hygiene and sanitation, and the consumption of fortified food. These initiatives are designed not only for physical health improvements but also aim to promote a shift in perceptions, attitudes, and behaviours concerning nutrition. These changes are facilitated through a strategy called Social and Behavioural Change Communication (SBCC) and follow the guidelines of Jan Andolan, another strategy under the Poshan Abhiyaan.
Engagement and Education Initiatives for Poshan Maah
In order to further engage the public and spread awareness about the importance of nutrition, several unique initiatives have been organized. These include a food and nutrition quiz and a meme competition on the My Gov portal. Additionally, an innovative Nutrition Park has been established at the Statue of Unity in Gujarat. This park combines education about nutrition with fun activities, thus offering a highly interactive way for visitors to learn about healthy eating and living.
About The Poshan Abhiyan
Poshan Abhiyan, or the National Nutrition Mission, is a vital program conceived and launched by the Prime Minister on International Women’s Day, 8th March, 2018. The launch location was Jhunjhunu, in Rajasthan. The initiative is implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child Development. The name “Poshan” is short for ‘Prime Minister’s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nutrition’.
The primary targets of Poshan Abhiyan are to reduce instances of stunting, underweight individuals, and low birth weight in children and adolescents by 2% each year. Another key target is to minimize anaemia among young children, adolescents, and women by 3% every year until 2022. While the set minimum target to reduce stunting is 2% per annum, the mission aims to decrease the current rate of 38.4% (as of 2016) to 25% by 2022.
Agricultural Fund of India
In conjunction with these efforts, an ‘Agricultural Fund of India’ is being created. This fund will provide comprehensive information on the variety of crops grown in different districts across the country, alongside their respective nutritional values. This data will be invaluable in guiding agricultural practices towards a healthier, nutrition-focused direction.
