Poshan Abhiyaan: India’s Mission for Better Nutrition

By Anurag Tiwari

Poshan Abhiyaan, also known as the National Nutrition Mission, is a flagship program launched by the Government of India to address the issue of malnutrition in India. Launched on 8th March 2018, it aims to improve nutritional outcomes for children, pregnant women, lactating mothers, and adolescent girls through a targeted and technology-driven approach.

In 2025, Poshan Abhiyaan 2025 continues to play a vital role in transforming India’s approach to nutrition and health.

What is Poshan Abhiyaan?

Poshan Abhiyaan stands for Prime Minister’s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nutrition. It is an umbrella initiative to bring various nutrition schemes in India under one platform. The mission aims to reduce stunting, under-nutrition, anemia, and low birth weight babies by leveraging modern technology, real-time monitoring, and community mobilization.

Key Objectives of Poshan Abhiyaan

1. Reduce stunting in children (0–6 years) to 25% by 2025.

2. Reduce under-nutrition and anemia among women and children.

3. Promote behavioral change through awareness campaigns.

4. Strengthen ICDS (Integrated Child Development Services) mechanisms.

5. Ensure convergence of various ministries and programs for maximum impact.

Poshan Abhiyaan 2025: Latest Updates

In 2025, Poshan Abhiyaan 2025 focuses on increasing community engagement and real-time data tracking using the POSHAN Tracker App. The Government has expanded digital tools and AI-driven analytics to identify and assist malnourished children across rural and urban areas.

POSHAN Tracker: Technology-Driven Monitoring

One of the biggest innovations in Poshan Abhiyaan is the POSHAN Tracker — a mobile-based application that helps Anganwadi workers record and track the nutritional status of beneficiaries in real-time. It replaces the older manual system and provides dashboards for district- and state-level monitoring.

Malnutrition in India: The Need for POSHAN

Despite economic growth, malnutrition in India remains a major public health challenge:

• 35.5% of children under five are stunted.

• 32% are underweight, and

• Over 50% of women are anemic (NFHS-5 data).

This data highlights the urgent need for robust programs like Poshan Abhiyaan to uplift nutrition levels across the country.

Major Components of Poshan Abhiyaan

1. Community-Based Events (CBE): Focused on local awareness through Poshan Maah and Poshan Pakhwada.

2. Jan Andolan (People’s Movement): Mobilizing public participation and social behavior change.

3. Capacity Building: Training Anganwadi workers and health professionals.

4. Innovation and Incentives: Awards and digital campaigns to encourage participation.

5. Convergence Action Plan: Coordinated efforts between the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Health, Panchayati Raj, and Education.

Related Schemes Integrated with POSHAN

• ICDS (Integrated Child Development Services)

• Anemia Mukt Bharat

• Mid-Day Meal Scheme (PM-POSHAN)

• Matru Vandana Yojana

• National Health Mission (NHM)

These nutrition schemes in India contribute to the holistic approach of POSHAN.

Community Participation in Poshan Abhiyaan

Events like Poshan Maah (celebrated every September) and Poshan Pakhwada aim to make nutrition a Jan Andolan. These involve:

• Nutrition rallies

• Cooking competitions

• Health camps

• Yoga sessions

• Mother’s meetings at Anganwadi centers

Impact of Poshan Abhiyaan

According to recent evaluations:

• There is increased awareness about health and nutrition.

• Real-time data monitoring has improved service delivery.

• Stunting and under-nutrition rates have shown a gradual decline in many districts.

Conclusion

Poshan Abhiyaan is a transformative mission that reflects India’s strong commitment to eliminating malnutrition and improving nutrition in India. As Poshan Abhiyaan 2025 progresses, with tools like the POSHAN Tracker and convergence with multiple programs, it is expected to create a lasting impact on the health and well-being of millions.

Let us all be part of this Jan Andolan and support India’s journey towards a well-nourished future.

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