Lok Sabha Question No. 2158 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-10
Subject: Poshan Jagrukta Abhiyaan
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Dhanush M Kumar, C.N. Annadurai, Gautham Sigamani Pon, Gajanan Chandrakant Kirtikar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2158

TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.12.2021

## POSHAN JAGRUKTA ABHIYAAN

2158  SHRI DHANUSH M. KUMAR SHRI C.N. ANNADURAI SHRI GAUTHAM SIGAMANI PON SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR:

Will the Minister of Women and Child Development be pleased to state:

- (a)      whether the Government had observed POSHAN Maah recently;
- (b) if  so,  the details of the programmes organized on the occasion of POSHAN Maah;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  also  organized  a  series  of  "Poshan  Jagrukta Abhiyaan" programmes recently and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether Mission Poshan  2.0 targeted only aspirational districts while undernutrition  and  malnutrition  related  issues  are  not  limited  to  only  these districts  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  reasons  therefor  and  the corrective steps taken in this regard; and
- (e) whether  the  Government  which  has  launched  Mission  Poshan  2.0  as  an integrated nutrition  support  programme has achieved its objective and if so, the details thereof and if not, the corrective steps taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a)  to  (c)    POSHAN  Abhiyaan,  strives  to  induce  behavioural  change  through nutrition centric J an Andolans in the form of Poshan Pakhwadas , Poshan Maahs and Community Based Events ( CBEc) through involvement of Panchayati Raj Institutions/Villages  Organizations/SHGs/volunteers  etc.  and  ensuring  wide  public participation. States/UTs are carrying out IEC activities on regular basis.  The month of  September  is  celebrated  as  Rashtriya  Poshan  Maah  across  the  country. The Rashtriya  Poshan  Maah  2021  witnessed  wide  participation  and  enthusiasm  from convergent  Ministries, States/UTs  and  field  functionaries.  Besides,  community groups, Panchayati Raj Institutions, staff at Block and District level also participated in the month long activities. The activities were monitored online, in real time using the  POSHAN  Abhiyaan  Jan  Andolan  Dashboard,  that  provided  for  data  entry  at National, State, District and Block levels.

The month long celebrations were focused on four themes which are as under:

- i. Plantation activity on 'Poshan Vatika'
- ii. Yoga and AYUSH for Nutrition
- iii. Distribution of 'Regional Nutrition Kit' to Anganwadi beneficiaries
- iv. Identification of SAM children and distribution of nutritious food

The  major  activities  conducted  during  Poshan  Maah  included   organization  of Anemia camps, promotion of breastfeeding, growth monitoring and identification of SAM/MAM  children,  hygiene,  water  &  sanitation  related  activities,  promotion  of complementary feeding, antenatal check-up, Yoga for Health and AYUSH for wellbeing, Poshan ke Paanch Sutras (First 1000 days), emphasis on food fortification & micronutrients,  immunisation,  plantation  drives  /poshan  vatika  and  distribution  of Regional Nutrition Kit.

(d) to (e) Mission Poshan 2.0, an integrated nutrition support programme has been announced in budget 2021-2022 for all 36 States/UTs covering all the Districts which includes  Aspirational  Districts.  It  seeks  to  strengthen  nutritional  content,  delivery, outreach  and  outcomes  with  focus  on  developing  practices  that  nurture  health, wellness  and  immunity  to  disease  and  malnutrition.  Steps  have  been  taken  to improve  nutritional  quality  and  testing  in  accredited  labs,  strengthen  delivery  and leverage technology under Poshan Tracker to improve governance. States/UTs have been advised to promote use of AYUSH systems for prevention of malnutrition and related  diseases.  Guidelines  were  issued  for  transparency  and  accountability  in delivery of supplementary nutrition and to track nutritional outcomes on 13.01.2021.

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