6th Rashtriya Poshan Maah 2023: A Nationwide Movement for Better Nutrition

New Delhi, September 16, 2023 – The Ministry of Women and Child Development, in collaboration with various key Ministries and Departments, has been spearheading a nutritional revolution across India through the 6th Rashtriya Poshan Maah. In the first 12 days of this month-long campaign, over 6 crore activities have been registered on the Jan Andolan dashboard across the country, showcasing the immense dedication and effort of diverse stakeholders.

The Rashtriya Poshan Maah is an integral part of the POSHAN Abhiyaan, initiated in March 2018, aimed at bringing about a significant change in the nutritional status of India. These Jan Andolans are celebrated twice annually, focusing on behavioral changes related to the consumption of essential nutritious foods at the grassroots level. The beneficiaries primarily include Pregnant Women, Lactating Mothers, Adolescent Girls, and Children up to 6 years of age.

Since its inception, a total of 10 Jan Andolans have been successfully celebrated, with more than 60 crore sensitization activities recorded. This substantial participation across the nation demonstrates the increasing awareness and commitment to improving nutrition since 2018.

One of the highlights of Rashtriya Poshan Maah 2023 is the active participation of various Ministries, including Rural Development, Health & Family Welfare, and Panchayati Raj. The Ministry of Rural Development alone has recorded more than 6 lakh activities, showcasing the collaborative efforts of multiple sectors for a common goal.

Under the overarching theme of Rashtriya Poshan Maah 2023, numerous activities have been organized in different regions of India. Here are a few noteworthy examples:

1. Exclusive Breastfeeding and Complementary Feeding: More than 1 crore activities have been reported under this theme, emphasizing the importance of proper infant nutrition.
2. Improving Nutrition Through Mission LiFE (Arunachal Pradesh): Activities aimed at creating awareness about rainwater harvesting and maintaining community water bodies have been carried out.
3. Poshan Rath Launch (Bihar): A ‘Poshan Rath’ with LED lighting was launched to celebrate Poshan Maah.
4. Poshan Mela (Leh): A vibrant Poshan Mela was held in Basgo village, Leh, with the participation of Sarpanch, health staff, parents, and children.
5. Celebrations in Karnataka: Various districts in Karnataka, including Kolar, Hassan, and Chikmagalur, celebrated Rashtriya Poshan Maah with activities like baby showers, Annaprashan ceremonies, and Poshan Melas.
6. Promotion of Millets: States like Goa, Gujarat, Arunachal Pradesh, and Assam organized recipe competitions to promote dietary diversity and millet consumption.
7. Food Resource Mapping (Mizoram): Activities were organized to map food resources in different parts of Mizoram.

In addition to these activities, there has been a strong emphasis on Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) through the Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi (PBPB) initiative, growth monitoring, and sensitization sessions. These efforts have been pivotal in addressing malnutrition challenges and promoting overall child development.

The ongoing campaign is centered around key themes, including Exclusive Breastfeeding and Complementary Feeding, Swasth Balak Spardha (Growth measurement), and sensitization of tribal communities on Millet and Traditional Food. These themes aim to combat malnutrition challenges, including anemia, and foster healthier lifestyles.

The numbers speak volumes about the impact of Rashtriya Poshan Maah 2023. The Swasth Balak Spardha/Growth measurement drive has registered the highest number of activities at 15 lakh, followed closely by sensitization activities on growth monitoring and “Food Resource Mapping” within villages, with close to 14 lakh activities. Anaemia camps, home visits, and initiatives like Growth Measurement (Swasth Balak Spardha) have been successful in engaging parents and communities.

In conclusion, Rashtriya Poshan Maah 2023 is a testament to the collaborative efforts of the government and various stakeholders to improve nutritional outcomes in India. With each Jan Andolan and its unique sensitization activities, the nation is taking significant strides towards making nutrition an integral part of Jan Bhagidari, ensuring a healthier and brighter future for our children.

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FAQ: Rashtriya Poshan Maah 2023

Q1: What is Rashtriya Poshan Maah? A: Rashtriya Poshan Maah is an annual campaign initiated by the Ministry of Women and Child Development to promote better nutrition and bring about behavioral changes in the consumption of essential nutritious foods, focusing on beneficiaries such as Pregnant Women, Lactating Mothers, Adolescent Girls, and Children up to 6 years of age.

Q2: How many activities were registered in the first 12 days of Rashtriya Poshan Maah 2023? A: Over 6 crore activities were registered on the Jan Andolan dashboard across the country in the first 12 days of Rashtriya Poshan Maah 2023.

Q3: What are some of the key themes of Rashtriya Poshan Maah 2023? A: Some key themes include Exclusive Breastfeeding and Complementary Feeding, Swasth Balak Spardha (Growth measurement), and sensitization of tribal communities on Millet/Local food/Traditional Food to address malnutrition challenges like anemia, among others.

Q4: How many Jan Andolans have been celebrated under POSHAN Abhiyaan since its inception? A: Since the launch of POSHAN Abhiyaan in March 2018, a total of 10 Jan Andolans have been successfully celebrated, recording more than 60 crore sensitization activities across the country.

Q5: What is the goal of Rashtriya Poshan Maah? A: The goal of Rashtriya Poshan Maah is to improve ground-level nutrition outcomes, encourage behavioral changes, and promote better nutrition for the well-being of women and children in India.

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Key Points:

1. POSHAN Abhiyaan’s Journey: Since the launch of POSHAN Abhiyaan in March 2018, India has been actively engaged in nationwide Jan Andolans, focusing on nutrition for the first time. These initiatives are carefully designed to bring about behavioral changes, especially regarding the consumption of essential nutritious foods, reaching down to the grassroots level. The target beneficiaries include Pregnant Women, Lactating Mothers, Adolescent Girls, and Children up to 6 years of age.
2. Twice-Annual Celebrations: The Jan Andolans are celebrated twice annually, during Poshan Maah in September and Poshan Pakhwada in March-April. So far, 10 Jan Andolans have been successfully celebrated, recording over 60 crore sensitization activities, showcasing increasing and sustained participation since 2018.
3. Collaboration and Outreach: The 6th Rashtriya Poshan Maah demonstrates the power of collaboration between various Ministries and Departments for maximum outreach. Ministries including Rural Development, Health & Family Welfare, and Panchayati Raj have actively contributed, with the Ministry of Rural Development alone recording more than 6 lakh activities.
4. Diverse Activities Across India: Numerous activities are taking place under various themes across all regions of India. Notably, more than 1 crore activities have been reported on the theme of ‘Exclusive Breastfeeding and Complementary Feeding.’ In various states, activities range from awareness programs about rainwater harvesting to celebrating Poshan Maah with LED-lit ‘Poshan Raths.’
5. Promoting Dietary Diversity: Several states are organizing recipe competitions to promote dietary diversity and the consumption of millets. This inclusive approach is critical for addressing malnutrition and anemia.
6. Focus on Sensitization: Specific sensitization activities, such as the Swasth Balak Spardha/Growth measurement drive, have registered a high number of activities, emphasizing the importance of growth monitoring and nutritional awareness among children and parents.

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Summary:

The Rashtriya Poshan Maah 2023, organized by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, is making remarkable progress in its mission to improve nutrition across India. With over 6 crore activities registered in the first 12 days, this initiative highlights the nation’s dedication to addressing malnutrition and promoting healthier lifestyles. Collaborative efforts and diverse activities across regions underscore the importance of making nutrition a part of every citizen’s journey towards a healthier future.

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