Government schemes play a crucial role in the UPSC exam, particularly in the polity and governance segments. This article provides an overview of the Poshan Abhiyaan program, a flagship initiative by the Indian Government aimed at addressing malnutrition. It is a valuable resource for IAS aspirants.
Poshan Abhiyaan Overview
Launched in 2018, Poshan Abhiyaan (National Nutrition Mission) is a multi-ministerial effort to improve the nutritional status of children, adolescents, pregnant women, and lactating mothers across India. The program integrates several governmental schemes to address malnutrition and aims to eradicate it by 2022.
Key Highlights
- Realignment with Mission Saksham Anganwadi & Poshan 2.0: The program has been updated to include Anganwadi services and a revised scheme for adolescent girls, focusing on improving nutritional delivery and outcomes.
- Core Focus Areas: Maternal nutrition, infant and child feeding norms, treatment of severe and moderate acute malnutrition (SAM/MAM), and wellness through AYUSH.
- Poshan 2.0: Emphasizes diet diversity, food fortification, millet consumption, and regional meal plans.
Pillars of Poshan Abhiyaan
- Maternal and Child Nutrition: Reducing stunting, anemia, and under-nutrition while improving birth weight.
- Technology & Convergence: Real-time monitoring via ICT and convergence between various ministries and schemes.
- Incentives for Anganwadi Workers (AWWs): IT-based tools for better service delivery and elimination of traditional registers.
Specific Targets of National Nutrition Mission (NNM)
- Reduce stunting by 2% annually.
- Decrease undernutrition by 2% annually.
- Lower anemia by 3% annually.
- Reduce low birth weight by 2% annually.
Impact of COVID-19 on Malnutrition
The pandemic has worsened malnutrition due to increased poverty, disrupted services like Anganwadi feeding, and halted immunization and nutrient supplementation programs, affecting the most vulnerable populations.
Rashtriya Poshan Maah
September is observed as Poshan Maah, dedicated to spreading nutrition awareness, focusing on Social Behavioural Change and Communication (SBCC).
This comprehensive initiative, led by the Ministry of Women and Child Development and supported by NITI Aayog, is a key step towards improving the nutritional status in India.
