Poshan Abhiyan
PRESENTEES
22041,22071,22073,22075
CONTENTS
● Introduction to programme
● History
● Features ,aim and targets of programme
● Key focus area
● Pillars of POSHAN Abhiyan
● Methodology for progress tracking
● Limitations of methodology
● Role of NITI Aayog
● Jan Andolan
● Progress under POSHAN Abhiyan
INTRODUCTION
Launched by the Prime Minister on March 8, 2018 in
Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan
INTRODUCTION
POSHAN (the Prime Minister’s Overarching Scheme
for Holistic Nutrition) Abhiyaan aims to prioritize
addressing malnutrition in India.
Malnutrition can have life-long, irreversible impacts,
currently affecting one in every three children and half of
all women in India.
Why do we need POSHAN Abhiyan?
● Global Nutrition Report 2016 revealed India's slow
progress in reducing chronic malnutrition.
● Major concerns: stunting, wasting, micronutrient
deficiencies, and overweight
● India ranked 114 out of 132 countries overall
● On wasting, India ranked 120 out of 130 countries
● 2016 data emphasized the urgent need for action
2015
NITI Aayog established
2016
policy priorties
Finance ministry
[Link] Mission 2017
meeting on nutrition;
2. Nutrition Final nutrition strategy
Nutrition mission
[Link] social unveiled by NITI Aayog
received inputs from
welfare programme
multiple groups
reviewed(e.g, NREGA)
2021
Mission POSHAN 2.0
launched in Union 2019 2018
Budget POSHAN Abhiyan POSHAN Abhiyan
Combined strongly implemented launched in March
Supplementary nutrition
and POSHAN Abhiyan
POSHAN Abhiyaan (previously called the National
Nutrition Mission) is the Government of India’s flagship
programme to improve nutritional outcomes for
● Children
● Adolescents
● Pregnant women
● Lactating mothers by leveraging technology.
It is a multi-ministerial convergence mission, which aims
to eliminate malnutrition in India by 2022.
Aims of poshan Abhiyan
POSHAN Abhiyaan aims to reduce malnourishment in a
phased manner through life cycle approach by adopting
synergized and result oriented approach.
The Abhiyaan will ensure mechanisms for timely service
delivery and robust monitoring as well as intervention
infrastructure.
FEATURES
Recognizing that malnutrition levels in India
are high, POSHAN Abhiyaan attempts to
deliver the following features to fight against
malnutrition:
1) A high impact package of interventions, focusing on
(but not limited to) the first 1,000 days of a child’s life
2). Strengthening the delivery of a high impact package of
interventions through:
● Remodelling nutrition monitoring by leveraging
technology and management through the Integrated
Child Development Services Common Application
Software (ICDS-CAS) (now POSHAN Tracker Tool)
● Improving capacities of frontline workers through the
incremental learning approach (ILA) mechanism.
● Emphasising convergent actions among the frontline
workforce.
3). A focus on cross-sectoral convergence to emphasise
the multi-dimensional nature of malnutrition
Convergence committees at the state, district and block
levels will support decentralized and convergent
planning and implementation, supported by flexipool and
innovation funds to encourage contextualised solutions.
POSHAN (Prime Minister's Overarching Scheme for Holistic
Nourishment) Abhiyaan is not a programme but a Jan
Andolan, and Bhagidaari, meaning "People's Movement."
● This programme incorporates inclusive participation of
public representatives of local bodies, government
departments of the state, social organizations and the
public and private sector at large.
● The programme, through the stated targets, will strive to
reduce the level of stunting. under-nutrition, anaemia and
low birth weight babies
POSHAN Abhiyaan was first rolled out in 315 priority (high
burden) Districts as part of Phase I (2017-18),
267 Districts as part of Phase II (2018-19)
136 Districts as part of Phase III (2019-20).
Targets of POSHAN Abhiyaan
KEY FOCUS AREA
● Detection and registration of pregnancy
● Ensuring timely antenatal care and postnatal care of
pregnant women
● Addressing maternal under-nutrition and low birth weight
● Improving infant young child nutrition and feeding
practices
● Ensuring proper growth monitoring of all children,
addressing growth faltering at its earliest
● Addressing iron deficiency anemia and controlling of
micronutrient deficiency among children,adolescent girls and
mothers.
● Strengthening health services, drinking water and sanitation
facilities and hygenic interventations and education.
● Household food security - strengthening food
supplementation programmes.
● Strengthening policy,coordination and convergence for
improved nutrition outcomes
● Strengthening training and capacity building of field
functionaries ( health, PRIs and WCD)
● Awareness generation amongst women and mothers
and strengthening livelihoods through MGNREGS,
NRLM and National Skill Development Mission etc.
Poshan Abhiyan: convergence of all
nutritional related schemes
Mahatma Gandhi
Public Distribution
National Rural
Janani suraksha System of Ministry
Employment
yojna of consumers
Gurantee Scheme of
NHM of MoHFW Affairs, Food and
Ministry of Rural
Public Distribution
Development
Drinking water and
Pradhanmantri
toilets with ministry of
Matru Vandana
Panchyati Raj and urban
Yojana Scheme for
local bodies through
adolescent girls of
ministry of urban
MWCD
development
7 Pillars of POSHAN Abhiyaan
1. ICDS-CAS 2. Convergence
3. Behavioural change, IEC, Advocacy
4. Training and Capacity building 5. Innovations
6. Performance incentives
7. Greivance redressal
1. ICDS-CAS
● Integrated Child Development Services-Common
Application Software
● ICT-based real-time monitoring through a mobile
app for Anganwadi workers.
● Helps in data collection, service delivery tracking,
and beneficiary management.
● Improves efficiency and accountability in the
Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS).
2. Convergence action planning
● Coordination among various ministries and departments
(Health, WCD, Sanitation, Education, etc.).
● Ensures a multi-sectoral approach to fight malnutrition.
● Example: Linking nutrition with clean water, sanitation,
and immunization
3. Behavioural change, IEC, Advocacy
● Focus on Information, Education, and Communication
(IEC).
● Encourages community awareness on nutrition,
hygiene, breastfeeding, complementary feeding,
anemia prevention, etc.
● Promotes Jan Andolan (People’s Movement) for
sustainable behavior change.
4. Training and Capacity building
● Regular training for Anganwadi workers, ASHAs,
ANMs, supervisors.
● Enhances knowledge and skills in nutrition counseling,
growth monitoring, and service delivery.
● Uses digital platforms for continuous learning.
5. Innovations
● Encourages new methods and technology in service
delivery.
● Includes use of apps, growth monitoring devices, and
innovative community-based approaches.
● Promotes best practices from states/districts for scaling up.
6. Performance Incentives
● Rewards and recognition for states, districts, and
Anganwadi workers based on performance.
● Motivates frontline workers to deliver better services.
● Encourages healthy competition among states for
improved nutrition outcomes.
7. Grievance Redressal
● Mechanism for reporting and resolving issues faced by
beneficiaries or workers.
● Ensures transparency and accountability.
● Builds trust in the system by addressing concerns
promptly.
Progress tracking framework
● helps identify strengths, areas for improvement, and
inform options for how to most effectively achieve
targets within a proposed timeframe
DATA COLLECTION FROM STATES
● a multi-pronged strategy for data collection was adopted
where NITI Aayog reached out to several central
government Ministries, States & UTs, and development
partners to collect the relevant information.
● NITI Aayog prepared two assessment questionnaires
that captured information related to infrastructure, HR,
training and capacity building, convergence, programme
and output activities, service delivery
Contd.
● progress and implementation score framework was
developed to assess the information received from the
States and UTs
● this score measures State and UT implementation
capabilities and progress on the roll-out of POSHAN
Abhiyaan
DATA COLLECTION FROM LINE MINISTRIES
Central level information was sought from:
Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD)
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW)
Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD)
Ministry of Education, MoE
Ministry of Panchayati Raj Institutions (MoPRI)
DATA COLLECTION FROM DEVELOPMENT
PARTNERS
Development partners with direct presence in the field were
encouraged to collect information on
● new initiatives
● models that can be scaled-up and replicated
● individuals who are conducting work at the grassroot-level
to improve nutrition outcomes in India
Analysis of data from States on system
readiness and service delivery
Computation of State/UT scores:
● A score was computed and assigned to States and UTs to
assess their progress on the implementation of POSHAN
Abhiyaan
● comprised of two sub-scores: one for the WCD
Department and one for the Health Department
● Both have maximum possible score of 50
Contd.
● Weights were assigned to the selected indicators for the
progress and implementation score
● range of weights were used that assigned full credit for
completed work and partial credit for work in progress
● Once the weights were assigned, scores were computed
● all scores were summed to compute the overall progress
score
LIMITATIONS of METHODOLOGY
● inconsistent reporting and missing data across various
indicators between States and UTs
● as reports may present partial data received from States
and UTs, the overall progress scores for certain States
and UTs appear relatively low, which may not
appropriately represent the State- or UT-level progress on
POSHAN Abhiyaan implementation.
NITI Aayog
● NITI Aayog has played a central role in POSHAN Abhiyaan, a
national mission to combat malnutrition, by conceptualizing and
implementing the program, launching the National Nutrition
Strategy (NNS) in 2017, preparing bi-annual progress reports,
and monitoring and evaluating its effectiveness through various
metrics
NITI Aayog's Key Contributions:
Conceptualization and Strategy
Program Steering
Monitoring and Reporting
Performance Assessment
Data-Driven Insights
Cross-Sectoral Convergence
Jan Andolan
The honourable PM
intended that the
POSHAN
ABHIYAAN be
converted into a Jan
Andolan (people's
movement) for
effective outreach
and Implementation.
OBJECTIVES :
● Raise awareness on impact of malnutrition and create a
‘call to action’ to contribute towards reduction of
malnutrition.
● Mobilise multiple sectors and Communities to consume
more Nutrition rich food.
● Promote knowledge attitude and behaviours that
supports optimal breastfeeding, complementary
feeding,maternal nutrition and Adolescent nutrition to
prevent malnutrition, Including severe acute malnutrition
and Anemia.
AUDIENCE SEGMENTATION
Participant Groups
SECONDARY TERTIARY
PRIMARY GROUPS GROUPS
GROUPS
Who influence Who help create
Among whom primary a
change is participants to supportive/condu
intended adopt changes cive environment
for change
PRIMARY SECONDARY TERTIARY
GROUPS GROUPS GROUPS
● Mother of young ● Frontline health ● Health facility staff.
children. workers.
●Women self help
●Adolescent girls. ● Community groups,Sanitation
members,School Committees.
●Pregnant and teacher,Panchayat
lactating mother's. representative. ●Training institute
staff,health
association,
media,policy makers.
12 THEMES
OF POSHAN
ABHIYAAN
JAN
ANDOLAN
MULTI SECTORAL CONVERGENCE :
● WOMEN and child development: Anganwadi
services,Supplementary nutrition, and early childhood
education.
● Health: growth monitoring, immunization And health
check-ups.
● Water, sanitation and hygiene ( WASH):Promoting
clean sanitation facilities and hygiene practices.
● Education: maternal education and presides school
● TECHNOLOGY: using platforms like POSHAN Tracker for
real time monitoring and data management.
● INSTITUTIONAL COORDINATION :
National Level- High level bodies like National Council on
India’s Nutrition Challenges, chaired by vice chairman of NITI
AAYOG , providing policy direction and review convergence
among ministries.
State and District Level- Convergence action Committees
at these levels facilitate Implementation, Identify gaps and
provide necessary support to Line departments.
POSHAN MAAH
● Month long campaign, celebrated in September across
India.
● To improve nutrition outcomes by raising awareness and
driving participation in POSHAN.
● For 2025, focus is on holistic Theme of “Right Nutrition,
Healthy Life”
POSHAN MAAH
Key themes and focus areas for 2025:
● Anemia prevention
● Growth monitoring
● Exclusive breastfeeding and complementary feeding
● Poshan bhi Padhai bhi
● Technology for Governance-technology And tools like
Poshan Tracker app
● Ek Ped Maa ke Naam
POSHAN ● An annual nutrition awareness
PAKHWADA campaign.
● Celebrated
annually on Fortnight
of March.
● In 2025, 7th edition
of Poshan Pakhwada
celebrated from
April 8 to April 22.
CONVERGENCE
OF MINISTRIES
UNDER
POSHAN
ABHIYAAN
Key Nutrition Interventions by Ministry of
WOMEN and Child Development:
serves as a nodal ministry for Poshan abhiyaan.
● ANGANWADI SERVICES.
● PMMVY (PRADHAN MANTRI MATRU VANDANA YOJANA).
●SUPPLEMENTARY NUTRITION.
● Mission Poshan 2.0
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: direct
health interventions
● Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakaram (RBSK).
● Rashtriya Kishore Swasthya Karyakaram (RKSK).
● Anemia Mukt Bharat(AMB).
● National Health Mission(NHM).
● Mission Indradhanush.
Ministry of Drinking water and sanitation:
hygiene for health
● Swachh Bharat Mission.
● Jal Jeevan Mission.
● Water Sanitation and hygiene (WASH).
Ministry of Education:
Nurturing in schools.
●PM POSHAN (PRADHAN MANTRI POSHAN SHAKTI
NIRMAN).
●SCHOOL HEALTH PROGRAM.
NEWER INITIATIVES :
● 2 lakh AWC @ 40,000 AWCs per year
strengthened and upgraded.
SAKSHAM
ANGANWADI ● Water purifier.
● Smart learning aid.
● Real time monitoring and tracking of
POSHAN AWC,AWW and beneficiaries on defined
TRACKER indicators.
● Launched on 1st March 2021.
NEWER INITIATIVES :
● Kitchen and nutri garden near AWC and govt.
school.
POSHAN ● Acts as demonstration activity site for children.
VATIKA ● Counsel beneficiaries about importance of
nutrition garden,Nutritional value of fruits and
vegetables.
POSHAN PANCHAYATS :
● The abhiyaan is focusing on converting the agenda of
improving nutrition into Jan Andolan through involvement of
Panchayati Raj institutions/villages organization/SHGs and
ensuring wide public participation.
Women led gram subha Committee
Nominate/elect 10-15 women members
To institutionalized a POSHAN PANCHAYAT
Condt…
Which acts as a sub -Committee of Gram Panchayat
The Poshan Panchayat committe will be led by women
who are also direct beneficiaries of the Anganwadi
services and can act as “agents of change”
Poshan Panchayat shall meet and discuss reasons for
malnutrition specific to their jurisdiction and facilitate
necessary community/social support mechanism, every
month.
Nationwide Progress under POSHAN Abhiyaan
Coverage and Beneficiaries :Over
8.80 crore children aged 0-6 years
are enrolled in Anganwadi centers
under the program, with 8.52 crore
actively receiving supplementary
nutrition and health services. More
than 72.22 lakh pregnant and
lactating women are also
beneficiaries.
Nutritional Improvements :
● Wasting reduced from 19.3%(NFHS5) to 5.46%(JUNE 2025)
● Underweight prevalence decreased from 32.1%(NFHS5) to
15.93%(JUNE 2025).
Impact Indicators: India Snapshot
Source of data Stunting rate Underweight Wasting % Anemia among Anemia
% (0-5yr) % women of among
Year reproductive children
age% (0-5yr)%
2005-2006 NFHS-3 48.0 43.5 20.8 55 70
2015-2016 NFHS-4 38.4 36.0 21.0 53 58
2019-2021 NFHS-5 35.5 32.1 19.3 57 (increase) 67(increase)
2022-2025 Poshan tracker ~37.0 ~15.93 ~5.46 (est) ~57 ~67
June 2025 near
real time data.
LIMITATION:
● Stunting and anaemia prevalence among children in India
remain high despite large-scale interventions such as
Poshan Abhiyan, due to deeply rooted socioeconomic,
nutritional, and systemic challenges.
● Reasons for persistent Stunting and Anemia :
1. Poverty, Poor Dietary Diversity, and Inadequate Complementary
Feeding
2. Maternal Health and Education
3. Infections and Hygiene
4. Regional and Social Disparities
5. Persistent Malnutrition in Early Childhood
SITUATION IN HIMACHAL PRADESH
● Himachal Pradesh consistently ranks among
high-performing states in nutrition service delivery, but
has gaps in human resources and coverage.
● Infrastructure: Himachal Pradesh has 100% functional
sub-centres and community health centres (CHCs),
demonstrating strong health infrastructure.
● All districts in Himachal Pradesh are covered, with over
12,000 Anganwadi centres implementing the scheme.
Problem Statement in Himachal Pradesh
The problem is a combination of persistent anemia, pockets of child
undernutrition, maternal health challenges, and geographic
inequalities despite strong program efforts.
● High prevalence of
anemia: Over 53% of
women aged 15-49 and
more than 53% of children
aged 6-59 months suffer
from anemia, posing serious
health and developmental
risks.
● Child malnutrition:
The data is based on the June 2025
Poshan Tracker and NFHS-5 surveys.
Stunting :19.68%
Wasting : 2.41%
Underweight : 6.88%
Himachal Pradesh performs better
than the national average:
National stunting rate : 37%
National wasting rate : 5.67%
National underweight rate : 15.93%
● The state’s malnutrition figures show positive trends but pockets of
high malnutrition remain, especially in remote districts.
● Some districts, such as Kangra and Lahaul & Spiti, have higher
stunting and underweight rates.
● Targeted interventions are being focused on these vulnerable areas.
CONTD.
● Geographic and socio-economic disparities: Remote
and tribal areas show higher levels of undernutrition and
lower access to nutrition services, indicating uneven
program impact across the state.
● Convergence and real-time monitoring through ICT
(Information and Communication Technology) have
improved tracking but require continued strengthening for
optimum impact.
Mukhya Mantri Bal Suposhan Yojana
The Mukhya Mantri Bal Suposhan Yojana is a flagship
nutrition scheme launched by the Himachal Pradesh
government in 2022 to combat malnutrition among children
and improve maternal health.
● Targets pregnant women, lactating mothers, children aged 6
months to 6 years, as well as adolescent girls.
● Includes special focused campaigns for anemia, diarrhea,
pneumonia, and malnutrition control.
● Four-level monitoring and supervision system is in place to ensure
effective program implementation.
Seven Pillars of MMBSY - Sapt Stambh
1 Early Detection and Treatment of Diarrhoea and Pneumonia.
2 Intensified Monitoring and care of Identified High Risk group.
Special SNP-Addition of Protein Rich Food for High risk Children
3 and Improved Feeding Practices.
4 Interventions for Anaemia in Children and Adolescent Girls.
Detection of High Risk Pregnancies particularly Hypertension and
5 Anaemia
6 Treatment and Follow Up of Malnourised Children.
7 Social Behaviour Change Strategies
Impact Indicators (Projections by 2026)
Impact Indicators (Projections by 2026)
CONCLUSION
● Himachal Pradesh shows commendable progress in
child nutrition indicators compared to many states.
● Continued focus on vulnerable districts and
comprehensive nutrition programs is essential to
sustain and accelerate this progress.
