The third ‘Rashtriya Poshan Maah’ (National Nutrition Month) is being celebrated in the month of September.

The ‘Poshan Maah’ is celebrated under the Poshan Abhiyaan, which was launched in 2018. 

The ministry of women and child development is the nodal ministry for the Poshan Abhiyaan. 

National Nutrition Month 

The objective of the ‘Poshan Maah’ is to encourage ‘jan bhagidaari’ (public participation) for addressing malnutrition amongst young children and women and to ensure health and nutrition for everyone.

During the month, the government organises programmes to spread awareness on the issues related to malnutrition like stunting, under-nutrition, anaemia and low birth weight in children and focus on adolescent girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers.

Identification of Severely Acute Malnourished (SAM) children and their management and plantation of ‘Poshan Vaatikas’ (Nutri-gardens) will be undertaken as focus activities.

Other ministries have also planned activities to bring nutrition in focus through their verticals. Department of school education has asked states to conduct nutrition e-quiz and meme making competition for students. 

Ministry of panchayati raj is planning to conduct special committee meetings in every gram panchayat during the month. 

Ministry of rural development has advised states to promote nutri-gardens with the support of MGNREGA. 

‘Poshan Maah’ is celebrated under the national nutrition mission or Poshan Abhiyan which aims to tackle malnutrition in the country.

Poshan Abhiyaan

There are a number of schemes in India aimed at improving the nutritional status of children (0-6 years) as well as pregnant women and lactating mothers. In spite of these, the level of malnutrition and related problems in the country is high. The lack of synergy between schemes to achieve a common goal has been blamed. Poshan Abhiyaan through a robust convergence mechanism and other components would strive to create the synergy.

PM Modi launched the Poshan Abhiyaan (National Nutrition Mission) in March 2018.

It is a multi-ministerial convergence mission with the vision to ensure attainment of a malnutrition-free India by 2022.

The objective of the scheme is to reduce stunting in identified districts of India with the highest malnutrition burden by improving utilisation of key anganwadi services and improving its quality.

It aims to ensure holistic development and adequate nutrition for pregnant women, mothers and children.

The Poshan Abhiyaan monitors, supervises, fixes targets and guides nutrition-related interventions across the ministries.

The campaign seeks to synergise efforts of key stakeholders by leveraging technology and intends to take nutrition awareness to the level of jan andolan or people’s movement.

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