POSHAN Abhiyaan - A Jan Andolan in making

Context:

1. The Ministry of Women and Child Development conducted first National workshop on POSHAN Abhiyaan involving all the States and Union Territories at Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra, New Delhi. POSHAN Abhiyaan was launched on 8th March 2018 by the Prime Minister in Jhunjhunu.

2. POSHAN stands for "PM’s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nourishment."

  Targets under the Abhiyaan:

1. The Abhiyaan targets to reduce stunting, under-nutrition, anemia (among young children, women and adolescent girls) and reduce low birth weight by 2%, 2%, 3% and 2% per annum respectively.

2. The target of the mission is to bring down stunting among children in the age group 0-6 years from 38.4% to 25% by 2022.

Ministry : Ministry of Women and Child Development

Functioning: 

1. Under the Abhiyaan, Swasth Bharat Preraks will be deployed one in each district for coordinating with district officials and enabling fast and efficient execution of the Abhiyaan across the country. Swasth Bharat Preraks would function as catalyst for fast tracking the implementation of the Abhiyaan. 

Pillars of the Mission:

1. ICDS-CAS(Common Application Software)

2. Convergence between ministries

   • Implementation of Convergence Action Plan at State/UT Level.

3. Behavioural change, IEC Advocacy

4. Training and Capacity building

   • Implementation of ILA(Incremental Learning Approach) and CBE(Community based events). 

5. Innovations

6. Incentives

7. Grievance Redressal

Key nutrition strategies and interventions:

1. IYCF(Infant and Young child feeding)

2. Food and Nutrition

3. Immunisation

4. Institutional Delivery

5. WASH(Water,Sanitation and Hygiene)

6. De-worming

7. ORS-Zinc

8. Food Fortification

9. Dietary Diversification

10. Adolescent Nutrition

11. Maternal Health and Nutrition

12. ECD(Early childhood development)/ECCE(Early Childhood care and Education)

13. Convergence

14. ICT-RTM(Information and Communication. Technology enabled Real Time Monitoring)

15. Capacity Building

Convergence between the ministries will be crucial for the mission success.