Poshan Abhiyan: Reflecting on Seven Years of India’s Fight Against Malnutrition

As India marks the 7th Poshan Maah (Nutrition Month) in 2024, it's an opportune moment to reflect on the journey of Poshan Abhiyan, the National Nutrition Mission, since its launch in 2018. This flagship initiative has been at the forefront of India's battle against malnutrition, focusing on children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers, with the vision of a "malnutrition-free India."

The Journey So Far:

• Launch and Objectives: Poshan Abhiyan was launched on March 8, 2018, with an ambitious goal of reducing stunting, underweight, and anemia in children and women. The mission set a target to reduce stunting by 2%, undernutrition by 2%, and anemia (among young children, women, and adolescent girls) by 3% annually until 2022.
• Annual Poshan Maah: Each September, Poshan Maah has been celebrated to raise awareness about nutrition at the grassroots level. The month-long campaigns have focused on behavioral change through community-based events, engaging millions across the country. The 2023 Poshan Maah, for instance, emphasized the importance of traditional diets and local food systems in combating malnutrition.
• Achievements: According to NFHS-5 (2019-21), stunting in children under five years of age has decreased from 38.4% in 2015-16 to 35.5% in 2019-21. Additionally, the prevalence of underweight children has reduced from 35.7% to 32.1% over the same period. Poshan Abhiyan's focus on leveraging technology, such as the ICDS-CAS real-time monitoring system, has also enhanced the efficiency of service delivery.
• Expansion of Focus: Over the years, the mission has expanded its focus to include adolescent girls, promoting nutrition literacy, and encouraging the consumption of iron and folic acid tablets to combat anemia.

Challenges and Ongoing Efforts:

• Regional Disparities: Despite national-level improvements, states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh continue to grapple with stunting rates above 40%, highlighting the need for more region-specific interventions.
• Infrastructure Gaps: Around 40% of Anganwadi centers still face infrastructure deficits, such as the lack of proper weighing scales and growth monitoring devices, which hampers effective service delivery.
• Cultural and Behavioral Barriers: In rural areas, deep-rooted cultural practices and a lack of awareness continue to pose challenges to the adoption of improved nutritional practices. Only 42.6% of children aged 6-8 months are receiving adequate complementary foods, as per NFHS-5 data.

The Road Ahead:As Poshan Abhiyan enters its seventh year, the focus is on sustaining and accelerating the progress made so far. The 7th Poshan Maah in 2024 is themed around "Nutritional Security Through Local Foods," emphasizing the importance of integrating traditional knowledge and local food systems into modern nutritional practices. The journey is ongoing, with the mission striving to ensure that every child, mother, and adolescent girl in India has access to the nutrition they need for a healthy future.