While progress has been made under Poshan Maah, India's size, diversity, and numerous challenges make it a persistent issue that demands constant attention
Poshan Maah, also known as National Nutrition Month, is an annual event in India aimed at raising awareness about the importance of nutrition and promoting healthy dietary habits. The theme for Poshan Maah 2023 is “Suposhit Bharat, Sakshar Bharat, Sashakt Bharat,” which translates to “Nutrition-rich India, Educated India, and Empowered India.” This theme underscores the critical interplay between nutrition, education, and empowerment in the country's development. “Suposhit Bharat,” is a critical component of India's public health and the cornerstone of human development. It signifies the nation's commitment to addressing the pervasive issue of malnutrition and promoting the health and well-being of its citizens. Adequate nutrition is essential for physical and cognitive growth, immune system function, and overall health. India faces a significant challenge in the form of malnutrition; 2019-21 National Family Health Survey 5 indicates unacceptable levels of malnutrition in children under five years of age with 35.5 percent stunting, 19.3 percent wasting, 32.1 percent underweight, and anaemia at a high of 67.1 percent. The data also shows that less than 50 percent of children under five years get timely complementary feeding and only 11.3 percent of children receive a minimum adequate diet. The Government of India (GOI) has implemented a range of measures and programmes to mitigate malnutrition; the decades-old Integrated Child Development Services, the Mid Day Meal/PM Poshan, the conditional cash transfer through Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana; the National Food Security Act 2013 that ensures access to food for vulnerable and low-income households; Anemia Mukt Bharat, an initiative that aims to reduce the prevalence of anaemia to name a few. Despite the significant efforts and measures taken by GOI to combat malnutrition, the issue continues due to a lack of awareness; economic and gender disparity; growing population; and food security challenges.
India has undertaken various education initiatives and programmes for primary and secondary education to improve the quality of education, increase access to education, and address specific challenges in the education sector.
“Sakshar Bharat,” is aimed at empowering children through universal access to quality education and to help leverage technology and online resources to reach remote and underserved communities, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The National Statistical Organisation (NSO) 2017-18 data on education in India states that access to secondary education within 1km from the house is at 38 and 70 percent in rural and urban households respectively. The literacy rate for ages 7 and above is 73.5 and 87.7 percent in rural and urban areas. As per the Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE) 2021-22 data, only 33.9 percent of schools in India have access to internet and only 45.8 percent have functional computers. The internet access rate in India has seen a steady growth from 4 percent in 2007 to 48.7 percent in 2022. More men (57.1 percent) than women (33.3 percent) in India use the internet. India has undertaken various education initiatives and programmes for primary and secondary education to improve the quality of education, increase access to education, and address specific challenges in the education sector. Other initiatives have also been implemented such as the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan for universalising elementary education and bridging the gender gap; Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan to enhance access to secondary education; National Education Policy 2020; Beti Bacho, Beti Padhao and Ladli Laxmi Yojana, cash incentive scheme to improve girl child enrolment and retention in school. Despite the progress made, challenges of unequal access to education, lack of funding, infrastructure, and skilled resources still remain. “Sashakt Bharat” or “Empowered India” emphasises the importance of gender mainstreaming and women’s empowerment in tackling nutritional issues. Women, as primary caregivers, play a central role in ensuring the nutritional well-being of their families. Multiple challenges faced by women due to the lack of education and job opportunities make them economically dependent and reduce their bargaining power within the household, thus impacting food security. Incidence of domestic violence has gone up to 31.2 percent in 2019-21 from 29.3 percent in 2015-16. About 3.1 percent of pregnant women (18-49 years of age) face domestic violence, despite ‘The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act’ of 2005. Various schemes by the Ministry of Women and Child Development have been initiated for women empowerment such as POSHAN Abhiyan for improving nutritional outcomes in pregnant and lactating women and adolescent girls—a scheme for adolescent girls to break the intergenerational cycle of malnutrition through an enabling environment; Ujjwala Scheme for extending LPG to below poverty line households; and Anganwadi Services for empowering women at the grassroots; Janani Suruksha Yojana for promoting institutional birth by National Health Mission. Further, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship is promoting women employment and empowerment through skill development. The Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana also provides micro loans to women entrepreneurs. However, many gaps between scheme and implementation persist and can be overcome by creating awareness among women of the various programmes and stringent implementation of laws and policies to protect and empower women.
Multiple challenges faced by women due to the lack of education and job opportunities make them economically dependent and reduce their bargaining power within the household, thus impacting food security.
Addressing malnutrition is a complex, long-term endeavour that requires sustained commitment, multi-sectoral collaboration, and adaptability to changing circumstances. While progress has been made, India's size, diversity, and numerous challenges make it a persistent issue that demands continuous attention and innovation in policymaking and implementation. Poshan Maah's theme of “Suposhit Bharat, Sakshar Bharat, Sashakt Bharat” encapsulates a holistic approach to addressing India's nutritional challenges. By focusing on nutrition, education, and empowerment, India can work towards a healthier, more literate, and empowered nation.
Shoba Suri is a Senior Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation.
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Dr. Shoba Suri is a Senior Fellow with ORFs Health Initiative. Shoba is a nutritionist with experience in community and clinical research. She has worked on nutrition, ...
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