On the 8th of March, 2018, the PM of India launched the Poshan Abhiyan (पोषण अभियान) or National Nutrition Mission in the Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan. This comprehensive program is expected to address the nutritional challenges that face our country with a specific focus on the nutritional status of adolescent girls, pregnant women, lactating mothers and children between the ages of 0-6 years. Through technology-driven interventions, convergence among various ministries and community participation; Poshan Abhiyan aims to reduce stunting, severe acute malnutrition, anaemia, and low birth weight in underprivileged children and women’s nutrition.

The main goal is to create a healthier nation by reducing stunting in children as well as women’s malnourishment and anaemia. Moreover, the low birth weight would be minimised as it is one critical factor for the proper healthiness of newborns. In this way, the program sets foundations for better conditions for future generations.

Read More: Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PM-GKAY): Transforming Food Security in India

Phase-wise Implementation Of Poshan Abhiyan (पोषण अभियान)

Poshan Abhiyan has been executed across all districts in India on a phased basis. For instance, Haryana started with Nuh and Panipat under Phase I.

Kaithal, Karnal, Kurukshetra, Bhiwani, Yamuna Nagar, Gurugram, Palwal, Rohtak, Sirsa and Sonipat were some more districts included in this initiative during Phase II.

The remaining ones were covered under Phase III making it a complete reach in the state.

Implementing Poshan Abhiyan over several phases will be more efficient as lessons learnt from each phase are taken into account when planning subsequent ones thus allowing for some adaptations and improvements hence ensuring that goals are achieved most effectively.

Key Objectives Of Poshan Abhiyan

Main objectives include:

• Prevent & Reduce Stunting among children (0-6 years).

• Prevent & Reduce under-nutrition (underweight prevalence) among children (0-6 years).

• Reduce the prevalence of anaemia among young children (6-59 months).

• Reduce the prevalence of anaemia among women and adolescent girls in the age group 15-49 years.

• Reduction in low birth weight incidence.

Read More: The National Food Security Mission (NFMS): A Comprehensive Overview

Components Of Poshan Abhiyan (पोषण अभियान)

• Convergence: One critical element of PoshanAbhiyan is its emphasis on convergence where all nutrition-related government programmes/schemes of the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) are brought together to address their intended beneficiaries. The Sarkari Yojana ensures that different ministries and departments work together so that whatever they are doing will be geared towards improving nutritional outcomes.

• ICDS-CAS: Integrated child development services application software is an information communication technology-based tool used for monitoring the nutritional status of individuals. It comprises mobile phones for Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) and supervisors to conduct height, weight and other growth measurements using tools such as stadiometers weighing scales. This quantitative approach enables better monitoring, management, and decision-making processes regarding nutrition interventions.

• Behavioural Change: Poshan Abhiyan is designed to be a Jan Andolan or People’s Movement with people at its centre. Regular community-based events are conducted which involve a huge number of people in addressing these important concerns through promoting awareness about nutrition and health. Besides this, it also helps make sure that the program benefits reach down to the grassroots level thereby having a long-lasting impact.

• Incentives: To motivate frontline functionaries, there are incentives based on performance under this initiative. This not only boosts their morale but also makes implementation effective and efficient as per its stipulations.

• Training and Capacity Building: The Poshan Abhiyan uses an Incremental Learning Approach (ILA) to train field workers in 21 different thematic modules. This knowledge is passed on by master trainers who ensure that the field workers are fully equipped to deal with arising challenges.

• Grievance Redressal: A call centre has also been set up for any beneficiary or worker with some challenges to easily access solutions, which ensures the smooth functioning of the program.

Read More: Learn How PM-GKAY Helps Supply Free Food To Migrants And The Poor In India

Events Under Poshan Abhiyan (पोषण अभियान)

In Anganwadi Centres (AWC), Community-Based Events (CBE) are celebrated bi-monthly with themes such as Annaprasan Diwas and Suposhan Diwas. These events play a crucial role in the success of Poshan Abhiyan because they create awareness about nutrition and public health among others.

Furthermore, the programme’s objectives have been further reinforced by regular Village Health Sanitation Nutrition Days (VHSND) held jointly with health departments and Gram Panchayats.

From March 8th-22nd 2020, Poshan Pakhwada, a fortnight that aimed at increasing the reach and impact of the program was conducted. Despite its suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic, males’ involvement in Poshan Abhiyan was given increased attention during this activity to foster nutrition outcomes through community participation.

Conclusion

Poshan Abhiyan is a big step towards reducing malnutrition and improving the nutrition status of women and children in India. The govt scheme is well placed to make a permanent imprint on a nation’s health as it takes on an all-inclusive approach that converges several central government schemes together with technological integration coupled with community involvement. Nonetheless, effective implementation of its components will determine how much success will be attained from Poshan Abhiyan alongside continued commitment by all stakeholders towards its strategic objectives.

For more details, you can visit the official government site and learn the details of the government scheme fighting malnutrition in India.