Ministry of Women and Child Development Organizes ‘Poshan Utsav: Celebrating Nutrition’ to promote good nutrition behavior

The Ministry of Women and Child Development organized the Poshan Utsav at The Oberoi on 29th February 2024. The event aimed to promote good nutrition behavior and highlighted India’s ongoing efforts to combat malnutrition by promoting good nutrition practices.

Distinguished Guests:

The event was graced by the Union Minister for Women and Child Development and Minority Affairs, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani, and Mr. Bill Gates, Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF).

Poshan Utsav Book Launch:

• The event featured the release of the ‘Poshan Utsav Book’, conceptualized by the Ministry of Women and Child Development and curated by the Deendayal Research Institute (DRI).
• The book aims to revive ancient nutrition traditions, facilitate knowledge exchange, and promote intergenerational learning.
• It serves as a comprehensive repository for appreciating the rich culinary heritage and nutritional diversity of India.

Cartoon Coalition Launch:

• The event announced the launch of the Cartoon Coalition, aimed at supporting the cause of Poshan through collaboration with MWCD.
• The coalition harnesses the power of popular cartoon characters to convey essential messages on nutrition in an entertaining and relatable manner for positive behavior change among children.

Remarks by Bill Gates:

• Mr. Bill Gates commended the Poshan Utsav book for incorporating local context and cultural practices to promote nutritional foods across India’s diverse communities.
• He emphasized the ripple effect of improving the lives of women, leading to lasting progress for communities and countries.

Keynote Address by Union Minister:

• The Union Minister expressed appreciation for BMGF’s efforts in the nutrition and gender space.
• She highlighted the historic moment marked by the announcement of Poshan Abhiyaan in 2018 by the Hon’ble Prime Minister.
• Every anganwadi is now digitally enabled for efficient service delivery, with handheld devices available to Anganwadi Centres across the country.
• The operationalization of Poshan Tracker has led to a significant decline in the numbers of SAM & MAM children compared to data reported under NFHS-5 survey.

Impact of Cartoon Coalition:

• The Union Minister emphasized that the Cartoon Coalition is a significant step towards bringing about behavioral change in children for a healthy lifestyle.
• The presence of popular cartoon characters like Chacha Chaudhary, Suppandi, Shambhu, and Elmo added special appeal to the occasion.