26-Apr-2022: Poshan Pakhwada 2022 Witnesses 3 Crore Activities Across The Nation

The Ministry of Women and Child Development celebrated the fourth Poshan Pakhwada from 21st March 2022 to 4thApril, 2022 which witnessed approximately, 3 Crore activities nationwide. The previous Pakhwada in 2021 witnessed around 2.21 crore activities. Keen participation was witnessed from partner ministries including Ministry of Jal Shakti, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Ayush, Youth Affairs & Sports, Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Education, Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Minority Affairs, Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Electronics and Information Technology, Housing and Urban Affairs and the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting for conducting nutrition centric activities across the nation. Poshan Pakhwada 2022 was focused around two broader areas viz. height and weight measurement of ‘beneficiary children up to 6 years of age’ and activities concentrated around Gender Sensitive Water Management, Anaemia and Traditional food for healthy mother and child esp. in Tribal Areas.

One of the key activities of the Pakhwada this year, focused on Gender Awareness on Water Management aiming at promoting the role of women in water governance, conservation and management through active sensitization by Poshan Panchayats and Mother Groups. Public outreach campaigns are one of the most effective strategies to propagate the conservation, protection and sustainable use of water. This was undertaken from the platform of Anganwadi Centres. In this pursuit, the Anganwadi Workers/Anganwadi Helpers were associated with inculcating ideas and importance of water in day-to-day life of children visiting Anganwadi Centres and pregnant women and lactating mothers.

In convergence with Ministry of Jal Shakti, several activities were carried out across the country as part of the Pakhwada. These include, sensitizing village / panchayat on water conservation and management, generation of awareness through IEC material on Water conservation, workshops for women on water conservation and rainwater harvesting etc. Total participation under Ministry of Jal Shakti involved 22,31,64,045 individuals with 2,144 activities in different parts of the country.

Similarly, focus on Traditional food for Healthy mother and child, especially in Tribal areas was one of the key themes of the Pakhwada this year. To generate greater awareness on the same, Ministry of Tribal Affairs focused on EMRS schools by conducting activities to sensitize children on dietary changes, encouraging locally available foods, awareness programmes on POSHAN in schools and through parent teacher interaction, sensitizing about traditional plants that help in gaining nutrition, developing nutri-gardens in EMRS schools etc. Total participation under Ministry of Tribal Affairs involved 10,31,24,345 individuals with 904 activities in tribal districts / areas. The top states in this regard, were in States of Maharashtra, Bihar Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka etc.

Talking in terms of ‘activities around various themes,’ besides activities concentrated around overall nutrition, Growth Monitoring remain highest with more than 10% activities, followed by activities around Breastfeeding, Hygiene, Water & Sanitation, Complementary Feeding, first 1000 days, ECCE, Hand Wash & Sanitation, Antenatal Checkup etc.

In terms of specific themes taken for Poshan Pakhwada 2022, activities around Anaemia remain highest (covering both Test, Treat & Talk and Anaemia under Poshan ke 5 Sutra), followed by Gender Sensitive Water Management and Traditional Food for Healthy Mother & Child in Tribal Areas. Around 6% of overall activities were focused around Ayush centric themes covering Yoga for Health and Ayush for well-being. 

Top ten States in terms of activities and participation reported during Pakhwada were Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.

24-Mar-2022: Ministry Of Women & Child Development Celebrating 4th Poshan Pakhwada From 21st March To 4th April, 2022

The Ministry of Women and Child Development is celebrating the 4th Poshan Pakhwada from 21st March to 4th April, 2022. For the celebration of Poshan Pakhwada, the emphasis is on two broad areas viz. identification & celebration of Healthy Child, and integration of modern and traditional practices for healthy India within the thematic areas around Poshan MITRA (Modern, IT based, Traditional& Regional Activities).

Under the theme for integration of modern and traditional practices, special focus will be on the following:

1. Measurement of Height and Weight of Children under 6 years who are beneficiaries in the Anganwadi Centres
2. Activities focused around Gender Sensitive Water Management and generating awareness in women about the importance of water conservation and promoting rainwater harvesting structures including in Anganwadi Centres
3. Test Treat and Talk Anaemia and
4. Promote traditional food for healthy mother and child esp. in Tribal Areas

POSHAN Abhiyan launched by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi on 8th March 2018 has reached a long way in ensuring wider people’s participation. Poshan Abhiyan endeavours to improve nutritional outcomes in a holistic manner in convergence with other Ministries. Behavioural change at individual and community level is an important component to achieve the desired goals of Poshan Abhiyan. Clarion calls from Prime Minister on various occasions including ‘Mann ki Baat’ have further helped to sensitize communities on issues concerning nutrition through Jan Andolan based mass public participation.

Ministry of Women and Child Development will be the nodal Ministry for coordinating activities during the Poshan Pakhwada. In the States / UTs, Department of Women & Child Development / Social Welfare Department will be the nodal department for Poshan Pakhwada.

17-Mar-2021: Poshan Pakhwada Being Celebrated from 16th to 31st March

Ministry of Women and Child Development is celebrating Poshan Pakhwada from 16th to 31st March, 2021.  Addressing nutritional challenges through Food Forestry and organizing Poshan Panchayats are the key focus areas for Poshan Pakhwada 2021. To address nutritional challenges, distribution of 4 saplings of nutrition rich plants per Anganwadi Centre (AWC) in the Aspirational Districts will be done under the supervision of local panchayat and DM/DC by National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), Ministry of AYUSH. Poshan Panchayat will be organized involving members of PRIs for generating awareness on topics like malnutrition prevalence and its consequences, Poshan Vatika, food forestry, identification of SAM/MAM children and its management.

Poshan  Abhiyaan, launched by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 8th March 2018, has reached a long way in ensuring wider people’s participation. Poshan Abhiyan endeavors to improve nutritional outcomes in a holistic manner in convergence with other Ministries. Behavioural change at individual and community level is an important component to achieve the desired goals of Poshan Abhiyan. Clarion calls from the Prime Minister on various occasions including ‘Mann ki Baat’ further helped to sensitize the masses on issues concerning nutrition through Jan Andolan based mass public participation.

During the last held nutrition-centric Jan Andolan based celebrations during Poshan Maah in September 2020, setting-up of Poshan Vatika gained momentum, as a result of which 10.87 lakhs plantation drives in the form of Kitchen Garden held at Anganwadi level. Simultaneously, during the same period, AYUSH based interventions further helped disseminating knowledge on age-old nutritional practices.

Ministry of Women & Child Development will be the nodal Ministry for coordinating activities during the Poshan Pakhwada. In the State/UT, Department of Women & Child Development /Social Welfare Department will be the nodal department for Poshan Pakhwada.