The Government of India has placed the fight against malnutrition high on its policy agenda, rolling out a series of initiatives aimed at breaking the intergenerational cycle of poor nutrition while strengthening health outcomes for children and women across the country.
The Centre has adopted what it describes as a holistic strategy, with the Ministry of Women and Child Development and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare working together to address the issue through targeted programmes. These efforts include identifying and managing children suffering from severe acute malnutrition and improving the overall nutrition and health status of vulnerable groups.
According to official data, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare maintains records of anaemia cases among children and women. State-wise data on anaemia prevalence is available through the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5). Meanwhile, the Causes of Death Report for 2021–23 released by the Sample Registration System of the Registrar General of India indicates that malnutrition has not been listed as a direct cause of death among children aged zero to four years in the country.
Mission Poshan 2.0 at the Centre of Nutrition Strategy
A major component of the government’s approach is Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, commonly referred to as Mission Poshan 2.0. This centrally sponsored umbrella mission under the Ministry of Women and Child Development focuses on key beneficiary groups, including children below six years of age, pregnant women, lactating mothers and adolescent girls aged 14 to 18 years in the North Eastern states and Aspirational Districts.
While the mission operates nationwide, its implementation rests largely with state governments and Union Territories, which carry out the programme’s various activities on the ground. The initiative integrates several existing interventions, including Anganwadi services, the Poshan Abhiyaan and schemes dedicated to adolescent girls.
Under the programme, beneficiaries receive supplementary nutrition aligned with the standards laid out in Schedule II of the National Food Security Act, 2013. These standards were revised in January 2023 to make them more comprehensive. Earlier benchmarks largely focused on calorie intake, but the updated guidelines place greater emphasis on balanced nutrition.
The revised standards promote dietary diversity and ensure the inclusion of quality protein and healthy fats. They also incorporate seven essential micronutrients considered crucial for growth and development: calcium, zinc, iron, dietary folate, vitamin A, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12.
Community Campaigns and Digital Tools Expand Outreach
Alongside nutritional support, the government has placed strong emphasis on public awareness and community participation. States and Union Territories organise extensive campaigns as part of the Poshan Maah observed in September and the Poshan Pakhwada conducted between March and April each year.
Community-based events have emerged as a key strategy to influence nutritional behaviour at the grassroots level. Anganwadi workers are required to conduct at least two such programmes every month. Since 2018, a total of 98 million community-based events and more than 150 crore activities under the People’s Movement initiative have been organised across the country.
Technology has also become a crucial part of the government’s monitoring framework. The Poshan Tracker digital application has been introduced as an information and communication technology-based governance platform. The system enables near real-time tracking of child growth indicators and helps identify cases of stunting, wasting, and underweight among children.
The application also captures operational details of Anganwadi centres, including opening hours, children’s attendance, early childhood care and education activities, and the distribution of hot cooked meals and take-home rations.
Minister of State for Women and Child Development Savitri Thakur shared these details in response to a question raised in the Rajya Sabha.