Shoiab Mohmmad Bhat
Poshan Abhiyaan is performing a revolutionary function in enhancing the nutritional scenario of Kashmir. By targeting children, pregnant and lactating women, and adolescent girls, the program ensures that the most vulnerable among them are provided with the care and nutrition they need.
Poshan Abhiyaan, or the National Nutrition Mission, is the flagship scheme of the Government of India meant for improvement in nutrition outcomes among lactating mothers, pregnant mothers, and children. The National Nutrition Mission was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018. Its simple objective is to tackle malnutrition, stunting, undernutrition, anemia, and low birth weight concerning children. The scheme has a multi-pronged approach constituted by many different health and nutrition programs to ensure that all individuals, be it the most vulnerable of the population, have proper nourishment.
In Kashmir, the implementation of Poshan Abhiyaan is of crucial importance because of the special geographical, climatic, and socio-economic conditions of the region. The valley experiences severe winters, challenging terrain, and poor access to remote villages, which intensify food insecurity and malnutrition. These problems are especially critical in rural and affected areas, where women and children are most vulnerable. To counter these challenges, the program has brought necessary interventions at the grassroots level.
The Major Beneficiaries of Poshan Abhiyaan in Kashmir are the Children below the Age of six. Young children are highly vulnerable to malnutrition, which leads to stunted growth, poor immunity, and developmental delay. Supplementary nutrition, health check-ups, and immunization facilities are provided by Anganwadi centers under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS).
In Gurez Valley, Bandipora District, a four-year-old girlnamed Zainab was malnourished due to the scarce availability of food during winter. Zainabreceived fortified food, growth monitoring, and counseling to her mother through the intervention of an Anganwadi worker. After six months, her health significantly improved, which is a result of Poshan Abhiyaan impacting the most vulnerable children.
Pregnant Women’s proper diet is essential for maintaining the health of the mother as well as the unborn baby. The scheme helps pregnant women consume nutritious food, iron and folic acid tablets, and access medical care in order to avoid complications during delivery.
Shaista, a 24-year-old female from the Kupwara District, suffered from undernutrition complications during pregnancy. Following registration in Poshan Abhiyaan’s prenatal nutrition program, she benefited from supplements, protein-enriched food packets, and regular monitoring. This program resulted in the safe delivery of a healthy baby, which again can be attributed to the scheme improving maternal and infant health.
A lactatingwoman’spostnatal diet is crucial for the recovery of a mother as well as for the proper production of breast milk for infants. The scheme offers supplementary food, breastfeeding counseling, and medical care to avoid anemia and other nutritional deficiencies.Teen Girls, Malnourishment of teenagers can influence their future pregnancy and general well-being. To stop this, nutritional assistance, programs against anemia, and well-balanced feeding habits campaigns form part of the mission.
Aasma, a 15-year-old school-going girl from Anantnag District, was anemic, and she remained tired and dizzy most of the time. As part of the Poshan Abhiyaan program, she was administered iron supplements, received nutrition education, and improved mid-day meals in school. Within three months, her hemoglobin level improved, and she turned into a role model for healthy eating habits for her friends. Vulnerable communitieswithin Kashmir, particularly those residing in conflict zones as well as unreachable areas, fail to access dietary food. It is ensured that Anganwadi centers expand to these sections of society to provide essential nourishment.
In the Pulwama District, a tribal population experienced acute shortages of food during the harsh winters, leading to high levels of malnutrition. With Poshan Abhiyaan, the prepositioning of foods, community kitchens, and local populations being trained in food preservation was done. Consequently, the community was able to overcome seasonal malnutrition successfully, thereby supporting the scheme’s function in enhancing food security.
Ruralregions in Kashmir lack proper access to healthcare and nutrition. The scheme guarantees that Anganwadi workers visit these villages to deliver vital food rations and medical care. Mobile health and nutrition teams are also sent to cater to families residing in inaccessible areas.Encouraging Nutritional AwarenessOne of the key objectives of the mission is to raise awareness regarding healthy food habits and appropriate nutrition. Various campaigns educate mothers and families about infant care, well-balanced diets, and the benefits of breastfeeding.The program provides women and children with fortified food, folic acid and iron tablets, and vitamins, preventing malnutrition and anemia. It also promotes the intake of nutritious food that is available locally to foster long-term, healthy dietary patterns. Growth monitoring and detection of Malnutrition at an Early Stage, Regular monitoring of the growth of children aids in early detection of malnutrition, facilitating timely intervention. Digital mechanisms and mobile applications aid in monitoring the development of beneficiaries so that none is left behind.
Anganwadi centers form the core of Poshan Abhiyaan, especially in rural districts. The government has been strengthening their infrastructure, enhancing food storage capacity, and imparting training to Anganwadi workers in nutrition services. More centers are being added in inaccessible regions to increase reach.In most cases, severe winters contribute to food deficiency in Kashmir that undermines nutrition levels. In countermeasure, the program pre-stocks food material necessities and advocates for growing nutritious crops. Additional rations are also delivered to needy households under severe climatic conditions. Anemia is a common condition in women and young girls in Kashmir. Routine screenings, iron supplements, and education campaigns on iron-fortified foods such as spinach, pulses, and dried fruits aid is decreasing anemia.
School-Based Nutrition Programmes, Poshan Abhiyaan is blended with mid-day meal schemes in schools such that children are provided with at least one quality meal per day. Special care is taken for schools located in far-flung areas where children might not be provided balanced diets even at home. Thesuccess of the mission is made possible with the commitment of Anganwadi workers, ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activists) workers, and healthcare personnel. Training is a regular activity for enhancing their competency in the identification of malnutrition, counseling for nutrition, and the delivery of health services properly.
Poshan Abhiyaan is performing a revolutionary function in enhancing the nutritional scenario of Kashmir. By targeting children, pregnant and lactating women, and adolescent girls, the program ensures that the most vulnerable among them are provided with the care and nutrition they need. The initiative has certainly played a beholding role in tackling malnourishment, anemia, and other health issues closely associated with overall health.Case studies of Aasma, Shaista, Zainab, and the Pulwama tribe have unmasked some prima facie impacts of the program created to combat nutrition-related issues in Kashmir. With ongoing government support, community involvement, and enhanced infrastructure, Poshan Abhiyaan can be scaled up to further enhance accessibility, food security, and health awareness. Through closing seasonal gaps in food and ensuring timely interventions, the mission is opening doors to a healthier and better-nourished future for Kashmir.
