Rashtriya POSHAN Maah 2020 | UPSC
HEADLINES:
Rashtriya POSHAN Maah 2020
WHY IN NEWS:
Self Help Groups and their federations of DAY-NRLM, MoRD participating actively in Rashtriya POSHAN Maah 2020 to improve awareness on health and nutrition issues across the country
SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 1 : 3 : Health : Malnutrition : Scheme
LEARNING:
For PRELIMS go through aim , beneficiaries and the significance of this event .
For MAINS take a look at events , outreach and the campaign . Let us dive in !
ISSUE:
RASHTRIYA POSHAN MAAH 2020
- POSHAN Abhiyaan (National Nutrition Mission) is India’s flagship programme, launched in March 2018.
- ‘National Council on India’s Nutrition Challenges’ on 24th July 2018 decided to celebrate the month of September as Rashtriya Poshan Maah.
AIM
- Specific targets are focused for reduction in low birth weight babies, stunting growth, under nutrition and prevalence of anemia over next three years.
THEME
- Plantation drive for promotion of kitchen gardens, state missions have been undertaking the following activities.
PARTICIPATION AND EVENTS
- Active participation of SHGs members and their federations .
- Organizing group meetings at SHG and its federations to discuss issues focussing on breastfeeding, Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) , nutri-gardens etc.
- Community cadres participate in events organized by various departments.e.g- VHSND, online discussion, webinars etc.
- Promotion of nutri-gardens in convergence with MGNREGS in a campaign mode.
- Encouragement to hand washing with soap, use of mask and social distancing in daily routine.
- Dissemination of key messages using technology platforms e.g. Whatsapp and online discussion platforms .
BENEFICIARIES
- To ensure a holistic approach, all 36 States/UTs and districts are being covered in a phased manner.
- Total 315 districts in 2017-18, 235 districts in 2018- 19 and the remaining districts in 2020 have been covered.
- More than 10 crore people will be benefitted by this programme.
- POSHAN Abhiyaan is not a programme but a Jan Andolan, and Bhagidaari, meaning “People’s Movement”.
IMPLEMENTATION
- DEPARTMENTS : The implementing departments /agencies like women and child development department through anganwari workers, health and family welfare department .
- LITERARY LEVEL : This will be through ASHA, ANM, primary health centres, community health centres, school education and literary department through school.
- AT PANCHAYATI LEVEL – Panchayat raj department , and rural development through self-help groups will carry out the activities and spread the message during the month.
SIGNIFICANCE
- This programme incorporates inclusive participation of public and private sector at large.
- Under Poshan Abhiyan states/UTs need to achieve convergence .
This is through the close coordination between:
- Department of women and child welfare
- Health and family welfare
- Drinking water and sanitation
- Rural development
- Panchayati raj
- Education
- Food and other concerned departments.
AMONG WHOM CHANGE IS INTENDED?
- Poshan Abhiyaan intends to increase nutrition awareness among mothers of young children, adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating women.
- Also the Abhiyaan intends family members (husbands, father, mothers-in-law) and community members, health care providers (ANM, ASHA, Anganwari worker) about key nutrition behaviours.
KEY NUTRITION BEHAVIOURS INCLUDE
FOR PREGNANT WOMEN
- Eat balanced diet containing variety of foods that is rich in iron and vitamins.
- Take milk and milk products, and iodised salt.
- Drink safe water.
- IFA (Iron and folic acid) tablet and calcium supplementation
- Promote for institutional delivery at nearest health center/ hospital.
- Awareness about personal hygiene and cleanliness.
- Washing hands before eating and after defecation.
LACTATING MOTHERS
- Eat balanced diet containing variety of foods that is rich in iron and vitamins.
- Take milk and milk product and iodised salt.
- Regular IFA tablets (till 6 months after delivery) and calcium supplementation.
- Drink safe drinking water.
- Wash hands before eating and feeding child.
- Personal cleanliness and hygiene of herself and baby.
CHILDREN
- Every newborn should be breastfed within one hour of birth.
- Mothers should exclusively breastfeed their babies for the first six months.
- Every infant should be given complementary foods on completing 6 months with breastfeeding continues till 2 years and beyond
- From 9 months onwards give your child vitamin A supplementation and deworming syrup/tablet (from one year of age) twice a year.
- Regular monitoring of the growth of infants and children with nutrition advice.
- Every child who has diarrhoea is given sufficient oral rehydration solution and zinc supplementation.
ADOLESCENT GIRLS
- Take milk and milk product and iodised salt
- Take IFA blue tablet every week.
- Maintain personal hygiene and menstrual hygiene
- Take deworming tablet twice a year.
- Drink safe water
- Wash hands before eating and after defecation.
AT COMMUNITY LEVEL
- Ensure safe drinking water in the community
- Every household safely disposes of child and animal faeces.
- Promote girls’ education, diet and right marriage age.
- Cultivation of vegetables in the community for local use.
IASbhai WINDUP:
- Events like Rashtriya POSHAN Maah provide an opportunity to fast track DAY-NRLM’s efforts to percolate key messages in an intensified manner.
- In this way intended beneficiaries come together with key stakeholders across all administrative levels.
CONTEST
- One of the activities is POSHAN Abhiyan ‘Recipe Contest’.
- Citizens are invited to come forward, share nutritional recipes and contribute towards creating a healthier India.
SOURCES:THE HINDU & PIB | Rashtriya POSHAN Maah 2020 | UPSC

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