September month is celebrated as Rashtriya Poshan Maah each year under POSHAN Abhiyaan (PM’s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nourishment), which was launched in 2018. Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has undertaken several activities during Poshan Maah started from 1st September 2020. PoshanMaah aims tocreate mobilizationacross the country forimproving Nutritionindicators.
Department of Youth Affair’s Nehru Yuva Kendra Sanghathan (NYKS) has been celebrating National Nutrition Month (RashtriyaPoshanMaah) across the country for the past two years in the month of September. Message of HarGharPoshanTyohar would be taken forward.As a part of observance of RashtriyaPoshanMaah, District Nehru YuvaKendras motivated the National Youth Volunteers (NYVs), Members of Youth Clubs, COVID volunteers, Ganga Doots and other NYVs to sensitise the villagers on the issues of Malnutrition, importance of breast feeding, promotion of Kitchen gardens in collaboration with District Administration, Anganwadi, ASHA Workers for effective implementation.
The Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports , Shri Kiren Rijiju said “NYKS is one of the largest youth organisations in the world. The youth volunteers are continuously engaged in nation building activities likeeducation, health and sanitation, environment, awareness on social issues, women empowerment, civic education among others. In the month of September we are celebrating PoshanMaahto take forward the message of Har Ghar Poshan Tyohar . This aims to bring about the much needed awareness especially in villages about the need for a healthy and nutritious diet for lifelong well being”.
A total 1,04,421 activities have been taken up so farduring Poshan Maahin which 51,02,912 youth and villagers took part. 1,125 Webinars were organized with the support of different resource persons to guide on the topics such as prevention of mal nutrition, especially severely acute malnourished children during and after pandemic with Nutrition experts, best practices and success stories, etc.
The youth and villagers were sensitized on the core issues of Poshan (Nutrition).Banners and publicity material including digital were displayed/ shared in 74,213 villages highlighting core issues of Poshan (Nutrition).
While maintaining social distancing,1862 meetings with eminent citizens were organized in which 36,274 youth played key role. 25,164 Pledge taking ceremonies were organized in which 6,54,320 youth took pledge for Poshan.Messages on PoshanMaah through social media platforms were disseminated through which 38.00 lakh youth and villagers were benefited.
29,057 Rallies, Run, Pad Yatra, Cycle Yatra, Cultural Programmes, NukkadNataks, Short Film Shows, Exhibitions, Competitions (Quiz, Painting, Poster Making, Essay and Slogan Writing, Wall Writing, Declamation, etc.) have also been organized.
District Nehru YuvaKendras ensured that while undertaking the PoshanMaah activities, the youth should wear face mask, wash their hands-on regular intervals, take due care for personnel hygiene and maintenance of social distancing as well as follow properly the advisories and Guidelines issued by Government and District Administration. Further, as per local notifications, permissions for conducting activities may be sought from District Administration.
Activities identified for celebratingPoshanMaah 2020 :
• Identification and tracking of children with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) Plantation drive for promotion of Kitchen gardens
• Leverage youth volunteer groups such as NYSK for focused sensitization on community based visual/early identification of Severely Malnourished/SAM children through digital platforms.
• Undertake digital sensitization in co-branding with ‘Fit India’ campaign and quality of food in convergence with FSSAI.
• Additionally, sensitization for nutrition, good sanitation & hygiene practices, importance of adequate dietary diversity
• Promotion of Nutri-Gardens across the associated campuses/premises
