POSHAN Maah

POSHAN Maah

Part of: GS Prelims and Mains GS-II- Health & Governance

In News:   Thematic POSHAN Maah will be Celebrated Across the Nation Throughout the Month of September as Part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.

About POSHAN (Prime Minister’s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nutrition) Abhiyaan:

• Launched by Ministry of Women & Child Development (MoW&CD) on the occasion of International Women’s Day on 8 March, 2018 from Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan, POSHAN Abhiyaan is Government of India’s flagship programmed to improve nutritional outcomes for children, adolescent Girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers. 

• The Abhiyaan targets to reduce 
  • Stunting by 2% per annum
  • Undernutrition by 2% per annum
  • Anemia (among young children, women and adolescent girls) by 3% per annum
  • Reduce low birth weight by 2% per annum 
• It is an inclusive Jan Andolan or “People’s Movement” that involves participation of public representatives of local bodies, government departments of the States/UTs, social organizations and the public and private sector at large.
• Focusing on the aims of POSHAN Abhiyaan, Mission Poshan 2.0 (Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0) has been announced in the Budget 2021-2022 as an integrated nutrition support programme, to strengthen nutritional content, delivery, outreach and outcomes with focus on developing practices that nurture health, wellness and immunity to disease and malnutrition.
• In order to ensure community mobilization and bolster people’s participation, every year, the month of September is celebrated as POSHAN Maah across the country. 
• This year, the entire month of September has been subdivided into weekly themes for focused and assimilated approach towards improving Holistic Nutrition. 

News Source: PIB