Poshan Abhiyaan, also known as the National Nutrition Mission, was launched on March 8, 2018, with the goal of improving the nutritional status of children, adolescent girls, pregnant women, and lactating mothers. The mission aims to reduce stunting, under-nutrition, anemia, and low birth weight in children through a targeted and integrated approach. Poshan Abhiyaan is a multi-ministerial initiative, implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, that integrates various schemes to deliver holistic nutrition services using a coordinated and technology-driven approach.

Objectives and Targets

The primary objective of Poshan Abhiyaan is to create a malnutrition-free India by 2022; however, efforts and targets are ongoing. Key targets include:

• Reducing stunting in children aged 0-6 years by 2% annually, with a goal of 25% reduction by 2022.
• Reducing underweight prevalence in children by 2% annually.
• Reducing anemia among children, adolescents, and women by 3% annually.

Strategic Pillars

Poshan Abhiyaan is built on four strategic pillars:

1. Quality Services: Strengthening health services through schemes like the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS), National Health Mission (NHM), and Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), focusing on the first 1,000 days of a child's life.
2. Cross-Sectoral Convergence: Coordinating efforts across various ministries, such as water and sanitation, to ensure holistic nutrition. The National Council on India's Nutrition Challenges, under NITI Aayog, guides policy and reviews nutrition convergence quarterly.
3. Technology: Utilizing the Nutrition Tracker for real-time data and monitoring, and the ICDS-Common Application Software to strengthen Anganwadi service delivery. The Poshan Tracker, launched in 2021, enables real-time monitoring of nutrition services at Anganwadi Centers, and beneficiaries can self-register via the Poshan Tracker Web App for improved access.
4. Jan Andolan: Promoting community-driven nutrition awareness and behavior change. This involves a nationwide movement to catalyze nutrition-related behavioral changes and promote positive feeding and healthcare practices.

Poshan Pakhwada 2025

Poshan Pakhwada is an annual nutrition awareness drive that promotes community participation in addressing malnutrition. In 2025, the 7th edition of Poshan Pakhwada is being observed from April 8 to April 22. The focus is on maternal and infant nutrition, digital accessibility for beneficiaries, and combating childhood obesity, with outcome-based interventions to enhance nutritional well-being. Special emphasis is given to the first 1,000 days of a child's life, educating families about maternal nutrition, breastfeeding, and balanced diets.

Mission Poshan 2.0

To further strengthen the efforts, Mission Poshan 2.0 was launched in 2021, merging Poshan Abhiyaan and the Supplementary Nutrition Programme. This consolidated effort aims to enhance coordination, promote operational efficiency, and implement a holistic approach to delivering nutrition services. The objectives of Poshan 2.0 include contributing to human capital development, addressing malnutrition challenges, promoting nutrition awareness, and addressing nutrition-related deficiencies through key strategies.

Achievements and Challenges

Poshan Abhiyaan has made significant strides in improving nutrition outcomes in India. Data from December 2023 indicated that 36% of children below six years were stunted, 17% were underweight, and 6% of children below five years were wasted. The National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5) 2019-21 showed improvements in nutritional indicators compared to NFHS-4 (2015-16), with stunting decreasing from 38.4% to 35.5%, underweight from 35.8% to 32.1%, and wasting from 21.0% to 19.3%.

Despite these achievements, several challenges remain:

• Technological Shortfalls: Erratic functioning of the Poshan Tracker and limited digital literacy among Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) hinder real-time data capture.
• Coordination Breakdowns: Ensuring effective convergence and coordination among various sectors and stakeholders remains a challenge.
• Entrenched Anemia: Addressing the high prevalence of anemia among women and children requires sustained efforts.
• Nutritional Disparities: Nutritional disparities persist in urban slums and among tribal communities.
• Socio-economic and Cultural Challenges: Factors such as caste, illiteracy among women, and gender biases pose challenges in implementing nutritional programs.
• Lack of Awareness: Insufficient awareness about healthy diets, unhealthy feeding practices, and poor breastfeeding practices contribute to malnutrition.
• Sanitation and Hygiene: Poor sanitary conditions and open defecation lead to diarrheal diseases, increasing susceptibility to stunting.
• Effective Use of Funds: Ensuring the allocated funds are utilized effectively is crucial for the successful implementation of the program.

Way Forward

To ensure the long-term success of Poshan Abhiyaan, sustained innovation and policy responsiveness are essential. This includes addressing technological limitations, strengthening coordination mechanisms, focusing on high-impact interventions, and promoting community participation. Continued efforts to address the underlying socio-economic and cultural factors, along with improved sanitation and hygiene, are also vital for achieving the goal of a malnutrition-free India.