Unicef Representative in India Yasmin Ali Haque has made the following observations about the Poshan Abhiyaan:
- Poshan Abhiyaan which focuses on reducing stunting, under-nutrition and anaemia in women and adolescents through direct cash transfers is a massive step towards eradicating malnutrition.
- Poshan Abhiyaan has got global recognition for its effort to eradicate malnutrition. Cash transfers under the mission provide an additional support to the family income. Hence Poshan Abhiyaan is a massive step that realises the need for eradicating malnutrition
- The whole issue of malnutrition requires concrete action starting from the grassroot level at households as well as the community level. The first and the most important step for reducing malnutrition in India are providing sufficient nutrition to pregnant and lactating mothers. The child then automatically is at much less risk of being malnourished.
Poshan Abhiyaan
POSHAN Abhiyaan (National Nutrition Mission) is a flagship programme of the Ministry of Women and Child Development. The Mission is aimed at improving the nutritional status of Children from 0-6 years, Adolescent Girls, Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers in a time bound manner during the next three years beginning 2017-18.
The Abhiyan aims to achieve convergence with various programmes i.e., Anganwadi Services, Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, Scheme for Adolescent Girls, Janani Suraksha Yojana, National Health Mission, Swachh-Bharat Mission, Public Distribution System, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.
The UNICEF Head also pointed out that the current policies are majorly focused on pregnant mothers and lactating children, but the government also needs to think about how to provide nutrition to growing children. He added that UNICEF will continue working with the government on initiatives like Swachh Bharat, Mission Indradhanush, vaccination policies and Poshan Abhiyaan.