Latest news with #POSHANAbhiyaan
Time of India
4 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
New tools offer breakthrough in tackling 'hidden hunger' in India
NEW DELHI: A new toolkit developed by The George Institute for Global Health (GIGH), India, in collaboration with Rutgers University, US and other international partners, promises to reshape India's response to malnutrition by helping map and understand its complex food environments. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The study, published in Current Developments in Nutrition, addresses how availability, affordability, and access to food influence nutritional outcomes in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) like India. The GIGH is an independent medical research organisation with a focus on improving the health of millions worldwide, particularly those living in disadvantaged settings. Established in 1999 and headquartered in Sydney, it operates major research centres in India, China, and the UK. Led by Shauna Downs of Rutgers and featuring Suparna Ghosh-Jerath from The George Institute, the research introduces a 'Food Environment Toolbox' that includes seven practical tools such as participatory mapping and market assessments. These tools were piloted across rural, urban, and peri-urban areas in India and Cambodia. India's food landscape is shifting rapidly, with growing market dependence not matched by better nutrition. 'We developed the toolbox through an iterative process, ensuring it reflects the realities of LMICs,' said Dr. Ghosh-Jerath. The country continues to battle a double burden—widespread nutrient deficiencies alongside rising diet-related diseases. National surveys reveal severe anaemia among women and children, underscoring the need for diet quality over mere calorie sufficiency. The new toolkit could enhance key nutrition schemes like POSHAN Abhiyaan, ICDS, and the Mid-Day Meal Scheme by aligning them more closely with regional food realities. 'The tools were adaptable across diverse contexts,' noted Dr. Downs, calling them a 'timely step toward more effective, evidence-based nutrition policy.'
Hans India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
PM Modi didn't just speak of modernising Anganwadis but delivered it: Smriti Irani
New Delhi: While the Modi government completes 11 years in power, 'Garib Kalyan' has remained at the core of governance as reflected in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's oft-repeated pitch of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Prayas'. Much like Ujjwala Yojana, DBT, Jan Dhan Yojana and others, Anganwadi centres have seen upgradation and transformation for the first time, under Prime Minister Modi. Former Union Minister Smriti Irani on Thursday explained in detail how the Anganwadis remained "institutions of no relevance" during UPA rule but became digitised and modernised under the Modi government. The Modi Story, a popular social media handle on X, shared a video of Smriti Irani shedding light on the differences between the BJP and Congress regimes in their outlook, focus and governance regarding Anganwadis. In the video, Irani, the former Women and Child Development Minister, said there is too much of a difference between boasting about bringing change and delivering it on the ground. "PM Modi didn't just speak about modernisation but delivered it. He not just spoke about revamping old ways of working in the Anganwadis but also brought structural changes to ensure that the real change happens on the ground," she said. Lamenting the ignorance and negligence of Anganwadi centres during the Congress regime, she said that it remained in power for so many years, but Anganwadis were never on its list of priorities. Recalling the range of initiatives to strengthen Anganwadis, Irani said that under Prime Minister Modi, more than 11 lakh Anganwadis received smart devices and 12 lakh growth monitoring devices, a first in the country's history. Over 10 lakh Anganwadi workers were trained digitally and offline, she further informed, calling it a true example of turning vision into action. Notably, Anganwadi Services are one of the flagship programmes of the government providing early childhood care and development of the beneficiaries i.e. children in the age group of 0-6 years, pregnant women and lactating mothers through a large network of Anganwadi workers (AWW) and Helpers (AWH). Under POSHAN Abhiyaan, the Aanganwadi workers (AWWs) have been technologically empowered with smartphones. A total of 11.03 lakhs smartphones have been procured by States/UTs. In a first-of-its-kind initiative this year, the Women and Child Development Ministry decided to extend childcare services through Anganwadi cum Creche (AWCC).
The Hindu
16-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
The ingredient to turn around nutrition outcomes
The analysis of India's free foodgrain programme for 800 million people underscores a grim reality: that hunger and malnutrition remain pressing concerns. Yet, in India's long battle against malnutrition, women and girls remain the most overlooked section. Despite steady economic progress and numerous welfare schemes, nutritional inequality continues to be deeply gendered. Launched in 2018 with the vision of a malnutrition-free India by 2022, the Prime Minister's Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nourishment (POSHAN) Abhiyaan has the aim of improving nutrition for pregnant women, lactating mothers, adolescent girls, and young children. However, stark disparities persist. Structural failures The National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-5 reveals that 57% of women in the age group 15 to 49 years are anaemic, in comparison to 26% of men; nearly one in five women are underweight. In other words, women are far more likely to be malnourished than men in India. These figures point to structural failures in how we address nutrition. Even after merging schemes into 'POSHAN 2.0' and investing heavily, the needle has not moved enough for women. Indeed, POSHAN Abhiyaan is India's largest nutrition programme with a hefty budget. In 2022-23, the Ministry of Women and Child Development was allocated nearly ₹24,000 crore for Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, but by December 2022, only 69% of those funds had been utilised. Despite such spending, the prevalence of anaemia among women actually rose from 53% to 57% between the last two NFHS rounds, and about 18.7% of women remain underweight. This contrast suggests that just pumping in resources into a women-centric nutrition scheme is not enough. In many Indian households, especially the poorer ones, women's nutritional needs are literally last in line. Entrenched cultural norms often mean that when food is scarce, women and girls eat least and last. Thus, malnutrition is not just a biomedical or food-supply issue; it is a social justice issue. If a woman lacks economic independence or decision-making power, she may have little control over her diet and health. Even government data underscores this link: the NFHS-5 found that 49% of women lack decision-making power over how their own earnings are spent. This financial dependence often translates into compromised nutrition — a result of gender-based deprivation. The issue of empowerment Studies have shown that empowering women financially is one of the most effective ways to improve nutrition. Nobel laureate Esther Duflo, for instance, finds that when women control extra income, they are more likely to spend it on nutrition and children's well-being. In a study we conducted among low-income communities, we observed that women with even a modest independent income or control over household spending were far less likely to be undernourished. The missing piece in India's nutrition puzzle is women's economic and social empowerment. The state of women's employment suggests that female labour force participation has risen from about 23% in 2017-18 to around 33% in 2021–22 — a positive shift on paper. But a vast majority of working women are in insecure, low-paying jobs. According to the Periodic Labour Force Surveys, as of 2021-22 only 5% of working women held a regular salaried job, while nearly 20% were self-employed (mostly in small-scale or informal activities). Moreover, self-employed women earned on average 53% less than men in similar work. In effect, many women who do work are barely earning enough to survive, employment has not yet translated into the power to make decisions or invest in their own nutrition and well-being. Thus, it is not enough to get women into the workforce; the quality and security of their jobs matter just as much. Without skills training, equal pay, and access to stable employment, women remain economically vulnerable even when they work. As a result, even well-intentioned nutrition programmes such as POSHAN will have limited impact if women cannot afford or are not empowered to consume the nutritious food being provided. Government reports praise Poshan Abhiyaan for creating awareness and a 'Jan Andolan' around nutrition, but awareness alone cannot fill an empty stomach. Need for convergence If POSHAN 2.0 aims to eliminate undernutrition, it should work in tandem with schemes that boost women's incomes and status. First, it must set measurable targets not just for reducing anaemia or stunting, but also for increasing the proportion of women with independent incomes and decision-making power. Second, it must break the silos, making sure that nutrition, health, and livelihood departments work together on joint interventions in high-malnutrition districts. Third, it must use Anganwadi centres and health workers to not only distribute food and supplements but also to connect women with skill training, credit schemes, or job opportunities. An Anganwadi can double as a one-stop hub for women's welfare (meals, antenatal care, financial literacy workshops). Ultimately, a malnutrition-free India will be possible only when women are not seen as passive beneficiaries of nutrition schemes but as active agents driving the health and the prosperity of their families. Divya Bharti is a Researcher and Faculty Associate, KIIT School of Management
Hindustan Times
25-04-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Building strong foundations: Nutrition and NEP 2020
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 stands as a cornerstone of change, reimagining learning through a holistic and multidisciplinary approach. Among its many forward-thinking provisions, the policy places a strong emphasis on integrating nutrition education into the curriculum, acknowledging its fundamental role in shaping students' overall well-being. While significant efforts have been made to improve access to nutrition, integrating nutrition education remains key to ensuring sustainable health outcomes. Malnutrition undermines individual health and takes a significant economic toll, draining 2-3% of a country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The impact is even more pronounced in the South-East Asia region, where many countries are now grappling with a triple burden of malnutrition--undernutrition (stunting and wasting), overnutrition (overweight and obesity), and micronutrient deficiencies (hidden hunger). Government initiatives like POSHAN Abhiyaan or the National Nutrition Mission, PM POSHAN and Poshan Tracker are a step in the right direction towards diminishing malnutrition. While these efforts have laid a strong foundation for addressing immediate nutritional deficiencies, the focus must now build on this progress to meet evolving challenges. With the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) highlighting a rise in childhood obesity and lifestyle diseases, the time is ripe to strengthen these efforts by integrating structured nutrition education--empowering future generations to make informed choices for lifelong health and well-being. However, effectively implementing nutrition education comes with its own set of challenges. A well-rounded approach to nutrition in schools requires standardised resources, skilled educators, and inclusive curriculum frameworks that cater to the diverse dietary needs of children. These needs are influenced by factors such as geography, socio-economic background, and genetic predisposition, highlighting the importance of a tailored yet structured strategy in nutrition education. A uniform approach to nutrition education is unlikely to be effective. For instance, while millets can be a staple in some regions, affordability and accessibility may pose challenges elsewhere. This underscores the need for collaboration among educators, policymakers, nutritionists, and other stakeholders to develop adaptable, region-specific modules that align with cultural and economic realities. The knock-on effect of nutrition education extends far beyond the classroom, influencing household dietary habits and community-level food choices. Students often serve as conduits of knowledge, passing on what they learn to their families and shaping household consumption patterns. This whole-of-society approach ensures that nutritional interventions at the school level contribute to broader public health improvements. This article is authored by Archana Sinha, co-founder and CEO, Nourishing Schools Foundation (NSF) and Pawan Aggarwal, CEO, Food Future Foundation.
