To improve implementation as well as to accelerate improvement in nutrition and child development outcomes, the existing scheme components have been re-organized under Poshan 2.0 into the primary verticals given below:
• Nutrition Support for Poshan through Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP) for children of the age group of 6 months to 6 years, pregnant women and lactating mothers (PWLM); and for Adolescent Girls in the age group of 14 to 18 years in Aspirational Districts and North Eastern Region (NER);
• Early Childhood Care and Education (3-6 years) and early stimulation for (0-3 years);
• Anganwadi Infrastructure including modern and upgraded Saksham Anganwadi; and
• Poshan Abhiyaan
The beneficiaries include children (0-6 years), pregnant women, lactating mothers and adolescent girls (14-18 years) in Aspirational Districts and North-Eastern Regions.
Six key services are offered, including Supplementary Nutrition, Pre-school Education, Nutrition & Health Education, Immunization, Health Check-up, and Referral Services.
The Population Norms for setting up of AWC are given as follows:
Area | Population | No. of AWCs |
Rural/Urban Projects | 400-800 | 1 |
800-1600 | 2 | |
1600-2400 | 3 | |
Thereafter in multiples of 800 | 1 | |
Tribal/Riverine/Desert, Hilly and other difficult areas/Projects | 300-800 | 1 |
PVTG Areas under PMJANMAN | Approx 100 | 1 |
Under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, 2 lakh AWCs @40,000 AWCs per year would be strengthened, upgraded and rejuvenated for improved nutrition and early childhood care and education (ECCE) delivery. AWCs would have better infrastructure including LED screens, RO Machine, smart learning and audio-visual aids, PoshanVatikas etc. Internet/wifi connectivity will be provisioned through BharatNet wherever available.
Under Saksham Anganwadi and Mission Poshan 2.0, Poshan Abhiyaan is the pillar for outreach and system strengthening, and cover ICT interventions, Media Advocacy and Research, Community Outreach, Jan Andolan and Innovations related to nutritional support.
SAM is the abbreviated form of Severe Acute Malnutrition, characterized by very low weight relative to length/height {weight-for-height z score <-3 SD (standard deviation) of WHO standards) and is a severe form of wasting.
MAM is the abbreviated form of Moderate Acute Malnutrition, characterised by low weight relative to length/height {weight-for-height z score between -2 and -3 SD (standard deviation) of WHO standards).
Poshan Abhiyaan aims to enhance community engagement through a nutrition-centric mass movement known as 'Jan Andolan' for improved nutrition. This includes focus on Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) activities to address inadequate and inappropriate infant and young child feeding practices, as well as nutrition and care during pregnancy and adolescence.
'Jan Andolans' are carried out through the annual Rashtriya Poshan Maah in September and Poshan Pakhwada in designated weeks of March-April nationwide. Convergence helps sensitising functionaries and beneficiaries of around 20 Ministries/ Departments across India, through every Jan Andolan.
Jan Andolan themes include Infant and young child feeding practices; Anaemia prevention; Importance of breast-feeding; Growth monitoring, Role of Poshan Panchayats; Ayush for well-being; Importance of Poshan Vatikas; Poshan ke Panch Sutra (First 1000 days, Nutritious food, Anaemia prevention, Diarrhoea management, and Hygiene & Sanitation); Promoting local foods etc.
To deliver maternal and child health and nutrition services at the village level through the platform of Anganwadi Center, Village Health Sanitation and Nutrition Days (VHSND) are conducted under the National Rural Health Mission.
VHSND is organised monthly at the AWC. ASHAs and AWWs mobilize villagers, especially women and children, to join the session. The participants receive basic information regarding nutrition, immunization, pre and post natal care, growth monitoring, anaemia prevention and management, etc. This initiative aims to encourage health seeking behaviour in the community.
For leveraging convergence for food and nutrition, Poshan Vatikas (kitchen gardens and nutri-gardens) are set up at or near the Anganwadi Centers (AWC).
Objective of development of Poshan Vatika is to provide a fresh and regular supply of locally produced fruits, vegetables and medicinal plants to women and children straight from a nutri-garden at/ around the AWC. This strategy aims at enhancing ‘diet diversity’ by providing key micronutrients through local fruits and vegetables.
The five key components critical for health and well-being or ‘Poshan ke Paanch Sutra’ are communicated under the Poshan Abhiyan with greater emphasis.
The messaging on the same focuses on the importance of the 1). first 1000 days of a child, referred to as the “window of opportunity”, 2). importance of diarrhoea management, 3). locally-available nutritious food, 4). sanitation and hygiene, and 5). anaemia prevention.
| Name | Landline | |
|---|---|---|
| Ms. Arkaja Das, Director | arkaja[dot]das[at]gov[dot]in | 011-23385192 |
| Ms. Jyotika, Deputy Secretary | jyotika[dot]irs[at]gov[dot]in | 011-23070494 |
