HEALTHCARE IN INDIA POSHAN ABHIYAN (NATIONAL NUTRITION MISSION)

HEALTHCARE IN INDIA

POSHAN ABHIYAN (NATIONAL NUTRITION MISSION)

Launched on 8th March 2018, POSHAN Abhiyaan, earlier known as the National Nutrition Mission, is an initiative aimed at improving the nutritional status of adolescent girls, pregnant women, and lactating mothers in a time-bound, result-oriented manner.

The program has been implemented across all States and Union Territories (UTs) of India.

KEY OBJECTIVES

• Synergized Approach: To improve nutritional outcomes through a comprehensive approach.
• Target Groups: Adolescent girls, pregnant women, lactating mothers.
• Time-Bound Results: Aimed at achieving quick, measurable improvements in the nutritional status of these groups.

PM POSHAN SCHEME

• The National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education (NP-NSPE), also known as the Mid-Day Meal Scheme, was launched by the Government of India on August 15, 1995, as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
• Its primary goal was to improve enrolment, attendance, and retention rates in schools, while also enhancing the nutrition levels of children.
• Initially, the scheme provided a free supply of food grains (100 grams per child per school day).

REVISIONS IN THIS SCHEME

• 2001 Revision: The scheme was revamped in line with the Supreme Court’s direction to provide cooked meals instead of just food grains, offering 300 calories and 8-12 grams of protein per child for those in classes I to V.
• 2008-09 Revision: The scheme was expanded to cover children from classes I to VIII, and the name was changed to the National Programme of Mid-Day Meal, or more commonly known as the Mid-Day Meal Scheme.
• 2021 Revisions: In September 2021, the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN) Scheme was introduced, previously known as the Mid-Day Meal Scheme.
• Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN) is the revised Mid-Day Meal Scheme (earlier known as the Mid-Day Meal Scheme), implemented by the Ministry of Education under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013.
• This new scheme was approved for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26 and aimed at providing hot cooked meals to children in government and government-aided schools, as well as children in Special Training Centres (STC), Madrasas, and Maqtabs supported under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA).

Currently, the scheme serves about 11.80 crore children across 11.20 lakh schools in India, with a significant budget allocation of Rs. 12,467.39 crore (~$1.5 billion) for FY 2024-25.

OBJECTIVES OF THE SCHEME

The PM POSHAN Scheme is designed with the dual objectives of improving education and nutrition. The scheme’s primary goals are to:

• Enhance Nutritional Status:
  • Ensure nutritious meals are provided to all eligible children in government and government-aided schools to address hunger and malnutrition.
• Encourage Regular School Attendance:
  • By offering nutritious meals, the scheme aims to encourage children from disadvantaged backgrounds to attend school regularly and focus better on classroom activities.
• Support Vulnerable Areas:
  • The scheme extends its support to children in drought-affected and disaster-affected areas, ensuring that they receive adequate nutritional support during difficult times.
• Achieve Universalization of Elementary Education:
  • The scheme ensures no child is excluded based on gender or social class, working toward the goal of universal elementary education.

Nutrition Norms per Child per Day:

Food Norms per Child per Day:

BUDGET ALLOCATION

• Annual Budget: For the 2024-25 fiscal year, a total of 12,467.39 crore (~US$ 1.5 billion) has been allocated for the PM POSHAN Scheme. This includes provisions for food grains, material costs, and infrastructure to ensure the smooth operation of the scheme across the country.
• Government Support: The Central Government fully funds the cost of food grains, while the costs associated with other materials and cooking expenses are shared between the Centre and the States/UTs.

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