Government Of India Initiatives

The Government of India has implemented several programs and initiatives to combat malnutrition in the country. Here are some of the key programs and initiatives:

1.  Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS): ICDS is a flagship program of the Government of India that aims to provide a package of services to children under the age of six years and their mothers. The services provided include supplementary nutrition, immunization, health check-ups, and pre-school education. This is a unique programme under which a package of integrated services consisting of supplementary nutrition, immunization, health checkup, referral and education service are provided to the most vulnerable groups
2.  National Nutrition Mission (Poshan Abhiyaan): Launched in 2018, the National Nutrition Mission is a multi-sectoral program that aims to reduce malnutrition in India. The program focuses on improving the nutritional status of pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children under the age of six years.
3.  Mid-Day Meal Scheme: The Mid-Day Meal Scheme is a school feeding program that provides free meals to children in government and government-aided schools. The program aims to improve the nutritional status of children and encourage school attendance.
4. National Health Mission (NHM): The National Health Mission is a flagship program of the Government of India that aims to improve the availability, accessibility, and quality of healthcare services in the country. The program focuses on maternal and child health, including nutrition.
5. Poshan Abhiyaan 2.0: Is the second phase of the National Nutrition Mission (Poshan Abhiyaan), which was launched in 2018 with the aim of reducing malnutrition in India. The second phase of the program was launched in March 2021 and is expected to continue until 2025.

The main objectives of Poshan Abhiyaan 2.0 are as follows:

• To reduce the prevalence of under-nutrition and low birth weight babies by 2% per annum.
• To reduce the prevalence of anemia among women and children by 3% per annum.
• To reduce the prevalence of stunting among children under five years of age by 2% per annum.
• To improve the coverage and quality of nutrition interventions for the first 1000 days of a child’s life.
• To strengthen the governance and institutional framework for nutrition.

The Government of India has launched several initiatives to combat malnutrition among the elderly population in the country. Here are some of the key initiatives:

1. Annapurna Scheme: The Annapurna Scheme is a national program that provides food security to destitute senior citizens who are not covered under the National Social Assistance Program (NSAP). Under this scheme, eligible beneficiaries receive a monthly food subsidy of 10 kg of food grains, including rice and wheat.
2. Integrated Programme for Older Persons (IPOP): IPOP is a national program that aims to improve the quality of life of older persons in India. The program provides a range of services, including health care, nutrition, and social welfare. The program also supports the establishment of old age homes and day care centers for the elderly.
3. Pension Schemes: The Government of India has launched several pension schemes for the elderly, including the National Social Assistance Program (NSAP) and the Atal Pension Yojana. These schemes provide financial support to eligible beneficiaries to help them meet their basic needs, including food and nutrition.