New Delhi: The Central government on Wednesday launched the 9th Rashtriya Poshan Maah 2026 at Varanasi, inaugurating a month-long nationwide Jan Andolan for nutrition.
The campaign aims to deepen community engagement with Anganwadi Centres and promote collective action towards improved nutrition, maternal health and early childhood development.
Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath highlighted the transformative role of Anganwadi Centres in advancing the objectives of Poshan Abhiyaan and strengthening grassroots nutrition services.
He emphasised that sustained convergence between departments, active community participation and the dedication of frontline workers are critical to achieving the goal of a malnutrition-free India.
The Chief Minister noted that Anganwadi Centres have been upgraded and renovated into vibrant community institutions with improved infrastructure and learning environments.
He further said that Anganwadi Workers have been equipped with smartphones, enabling real-time data entry and improved service delivery through digital monitoring.
Adityanath observed that Anganwadi Centres are now regularly providing Hot Cooked Meals (HCM) and Take Home Ration (THR) to eligible beneficiaries, contributing to better nutritional outcomes for children, pregnant women and lactating mothers across the state.
The event will showcase nutrition-focused innovations, local nutritious foods and best practices from Anganwadi Centres.
Over 150 crore Jan Andolan activities have been conducted through Poshan Maah, Poshan Pakhwada and other community engagement initiatives.
Meanwhile, launched on March 1, 2021, the Poshan Tracker has emerged as the primary governance tool for monitoring infrastructure, service delivery and nutritional outcomes under Anganwadi Services. The digital platform enables near real-time tracking of key activities, including the functioning of Anganwadi Centres, daily attendance of children, Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) activities, and growth monitoring.
The system currently covers a wide range of beneficiaries, including pregnant women, lactating mothers, children up to six years of age and adolescent girls.
As of July 31, 2026, India’s nutrition delivery network comprised nearly 13.99 lakh Anganwadi Centres supported by around 13.30 lakh Anganwadi workers. Together, this extensive grassroots network serves nearly 8.94 crore beneficiaries across the country.
(IANS)
