The Ministry of Women and Child Development today launched the 9th Rashtriya Poshan Maah 2026 at the Rudraksh International Cooperation and Convention Centre (RICCC), Varanasi, inaugurating a month-long nationwide Jan Andolan for nutrition under the theme "Hamari Anganwadi, Hamari Jimmedari".

The launch event was attended by Shri Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh; Smt. Annpurna Devi, Union Minister for Women and Child Development; Smt. Savitri Thakur, Minister of State for Women and Child Development; and Smt. Baby Rani Maurya, Minister for Women Welfare, Child Development and Nutrition, Government of Uttar Pradesh, along with senior officials from the Central and State Governments, development partners, frontline workers and beneficiaries.

Delivering the Special Address, Shri Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, highlighted the transformative role of Anganwadi Centres in advancing the objectives of Poshan Abhiyaan and strengthening grassroots nutrition services. He emphasized 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. Recalling the significant improvements made over the years, the Chief Minister noted that Anganwadi Centres have been upgraded and renovated into vibrant community institutions with improved infrastructure and learning environments. He further stated that Anganwadi Workers have been equipped with smartphones, enabling real-time data entry and improved service delivery through digital monitoring. Highlighting the strengthening of supplementary nutrition services, Shri Yogi 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 Chief Minister emphasized that investment in nutrition never goes waste, as it yields lifelong benefits in the form of healthier children, empowered families and a stronger nation.

In her keynote address, Smt. Annpurna Devi, Union Minister for Women and Child Development, reiterated the Government's commitment to improving nutrition outcomes through Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0. She stated that more than 14 lakh Anganwadi Centres are currently delivering nutrition, health and early childhood care services to over 7.5 crore children, 1.10 crore pregnant and lactating women, and nearly 16 lakh adolescent girls. Emphasizing the importance of the first 1,000 days of life, she noted that the Government is upgrading 2 lakh Anganwadi Centres into Saksham Anganwadis, of which around 24,000 centres have been approved in Uttar Pradesh. The Minister also highlighted that the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) has completed ten years of implementation and has so far transferred more than ₹21,000 crore through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to over 4.65 crore mothers across the country. She further underlined the role of community participation in improving dietary diversity, adequate protein intake, fresh hot cooked meals, sanitation, and early childhood development, and called upon citizens to make nutrition a true Jan Andolan in pursuit of the vision of a Suposhit Bharat and Viksit Bharat@2047.

On the occasion,  live interaction between the dignitaries Shri Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and Smt. Annpurna Devi, Union Minister for Women and Child Development took place with selected Anganwadi Workers whose centres were featured in the films. A special segment during the event featured beneficiary testimonial videos on Hot Cooked Meals, Take Home Ration, Home Visits and Early Childhood Care and Education.

Speaking on the occasion, Smt. Savitri Thakur, Minister of State for Women and Child Development, called upon communities, Panchayati Raj Institutions, Self-Help Groups and families to actively participate in the nutrition movement and strengthen grassroots delivery of nutrition and childcare services.

In his welcome address , Shri Anil Malik, Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development emphasized that Poshan Abhiyaan has evolved from a government programme into a nationwide Jan Andolan, and the next phase must deepen community ownership and accountability. He stressed the need to translate institutional and technological strengthening into improved service quality at every Anganwadi Centre.

Prior to the formal launch, the dignitaries visited the Poshan Mela at the venue, showcasing nutrition-focused innovations, local nutritious foods and best practices from Anganwadi Centres.

A special audio-visual presentation on Poshan Maah 2026 was screened, following which Shri Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and Smt. Annpurna Devi, Union Minister for Women and Child Development formally launched the nationwide campaign.The event also featured the screening of a film commemorating 10 years of the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), highlighting the scheme's contribution to improving maternal health and nutrition outcomes across the country.

Since the launch of Poshan Abhiyaan in 2018, more than 150 crore Jan Andolan activities have been conducted through Poshan Maah, Poshan Pakhwada and other community engagement initiatives. Rashtriya Poshan Maah 2026 will be observed across the country from 9 September  to 8 October with focused activities on:

• Dietary Diversity and Adequate Protein Intake
• Fresh Hot Cooked Meals at Anganwadi Centres
• Community Ownership through Anganwadi Management Committees and SNP Menu Boards
• Nutrition and Early Stimulation for Childhood Development
• 10 Years of Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)

The month-long campaign aims to deepen community engagement with Anganwadi Centres and promote collective action towards improved nutrition, maternal health and early childhood development, reinforcing the vision of a Suposhit Bharat.

https://webcast.gov.in/mwcd

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