Poshan Abhiyan

 Important Facts for Prelims

Poshan Abhiyan

Why in News?
Poshan Abhiyan seeks to enhance nutritional outcomes through technology, cross-sectoral collaboration, and community participation.

What is Poshan Abhiyan?
About:
Poshan Abhiyan is a flagship program of the Ministry of Women and Child Development, launched on March 8, 2018, in Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan. The initiative focuses on addressing the nutrition needs of adolescent girls, pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children (0-6 years) using a targeted and integrated approach.

Objectives:
The program aims to reduce stunting, undernutrition, anaemia (among young children, women, and adolescent girls), and low birth weight by 2%, 2%, 3%, and 2% annually, respectively.

Strategic Pillars:
Poshan Abhiyan operates under four main strategic pillars:

1. Quality Services: Strengthening health services through schemes like ICDS, NHM, and PMMVY, with a focus on a child's first 1,000 days.
2. Cross-Sectoral Convergence: Integrating ministries, such as Water & Sanitation, for comprehensive nutritional support.
3. Technology: Utilizing the Poshan Tracker for real-time data monitoring and ICDS-Common Application Software to improve Anganwadi Services.
4. Jan Andolan: Encouraging community-driven nutrition awareness and behavior change.

Nutritional Improvement (NFHS-5 Data):
According to NFHS-5 (2019-21), there has been notable improvement in nutrition indicators for children under 5 years:

• Wasting (Low weight-for-height): Decreased from 21% (NFHS-4) to 19.3% (NFHS-5).
• Undernutrition (Low weight-for-age): Reduced from 35.7% (NFHS-4) to 32.1% (NFHS-5).
• Stunting (Low height-for-age): Fell from 38.4% (NFHS-4) to 35.5% (NFHS-5).

Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0:
Mission Poshan 2.0, also known as Mission Saksham Anganwadi, aims to enhance health, wellness, immunity, and upgrade infrastructure for Anganwadi Centers (AWCs), including dedicated buildings, functional toilets, and access to drinking water.

India’s Nutritional Status (Global Hunger Index 2024):
India's performance in addressing hunger and malnutrition is tracked by the Global Hunger Index, which helps monitor the effectiveness of initiatives like Poshan Abhiyan.

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UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Prelims

1. Which of the following are the objectives of the ‘National Nutrition Mission’? (2017)

   • To create awareness about malnutrition among pregnant women and lactating mothers.
   • To reduce the incidence of anaemia among young children, adolescent girls, and women.
   • To promote the consumption of millets, coarse cereals, and unpolished rice.
   • To promote the consumption of poultry eggs.

   Select the correct answer using the code below:
   (a) 1 and 2 only
   (b) 1, 2, and 3 only
   (c) 1, 2, and 4 only
   (d) 3 and 4 only

   Answer: (a)

2. Which of the following is/are the indicator/indicators used by IFPRI to compute the Global Hunger Index Report? (2016)

   • Undernourishment
   • Child stunting
   • Child mortality

   Select the correct answer using the code below:
   (a) 1 only
   (b) 2 and 3 only
   (c) 1, 2, and 3
   (d) 1 and 3 only

   Answer: (c)

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