• The supplementary nutrition programmes and the Poshan Abhiyaan will be merged to launch Mission Poshan 2.0 to strengthen nutritional content, delivery, outreach, and outcome, according to the Union Budget 2021-22.

• The government will adopt an intensified strategy to improve nutritional outcomes across 112 aspirational districts.

• Out of Rs 24,435 crore allocated to the women child development (WCD) ministry, an amount of Rs 20,105 crore has been assigned to Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0.

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.

• ‘Poshan Maah’ is celebrated under the Poshan Abhiyaan. 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.

Supplementary nutrition programme

• In order to improve the nutritional status of women and children, WCD ministry is implementing supplementary nutrition programme as part of Anganwadi Services, Scheme for Adolescent Girls and National Creche Scheme under the Umbrella Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS).

Anganwadi Services scheme

• The Anganwadi Services scheme is a programme for early childhood care and development. It offers a package of six services,

1) Supplementary Nutrition

2) Pre-School Non-Formal Education

3) Nutrition and Health Education

4) Immunisation

5) Health checkup

6) Referral Services. 

• The beneficiaries under the scheme are children in the age group of 0-6 years, pregnant women and lactating mothers.

National Creche Scheme 

• National Creche Scheme (earlier named as Rajiv Gandhi National Creche Scheme) is being implemented as a centrally sponsored scheme through states/UTs with effect from January 1, 2017 to provide day care facilities to children (age group of 6 months to 6 years) of working mothers. 

The features of the National Creche Scheme are:

• Day care facilities including sleeping facilities.

• Early stimulation for children below 3 years and pre-school Education for 3 to 6 years old children.

• Supplementary nutrition 

• Growth monitoring

• Health checkup and immunisation.

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