PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
The Union minister of State for Women and Child Development (WECD), Savitri Thakur said that over 20 crore activities were organised across the country during Rashtriya Poshan Maah 2025. She said this while speaking at the concluding ceremony of the eighth Rashtriya Poshan Maah 2025 here on Friday.
Thakur also felicitated Poshan Champions, Mission Shakti Champions and distributed Mahalakshmi Kits. Through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), she transferred an amount of Rs 1,56,33,000 as part of the Mukhyamantri Vatsalya Yojana to 5,211 beneficiaries in the State.
Thakur said that the Poshan Abhiyan, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 8, 2018, has evolved into a transformative Jan Andolan, uniting multiple ministries and citizens under the shared vision of “Empowered Women, Nourished India.” She pointed out that the first 1,000 days—from conception to two years of age—are the most crucial for a child’s growth and development, stating, “A healthy mother gives birth to a strong child; when every household’s plate is balanced, the nation becomes stronger”. She also noted that this year’s Poshan Maah was particularly inclusive, with men and youth actively participating alongside women.
Additional secretary of the WECD, Lav Agarwal stated that through 14 lakh Anganwadi Centres across 36 States and Union Territories, services are being provided to over 10 crore beneficiaries, including children, pregnant women and others. Over 13 lakh Anganwadi workers have been equipped with smartphones linked to the app, ensuring accurate data and timely nutrition delivery. Approximately 13.87 lakh centres have also been provided with growth monitoring devices. He said that according to NFHS-5 data, India has shown a notable decline in key malnutrition indicators—stunting has decreased from 38.4 per cent to 35.5 per cent and the prevalence of underweight has dropped from 35.8 per cent to 32.1 per cent.
State WECD minister Rekha Arya said that real-time data through the Poshan Tracker has made service delivery more transparent and accountable.
In her video message, Union minister Annapurna Devi stated that under the Poshan Abhiyan, the Central government aims to ensure that every child is healthy and every mother is empowered.
