Poshan Maah to promote holistic child development

Shimla Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap chaired a meeting on Tuesday to review preparations for the upcoming National Nutrition Month (Poshan Maah) 2025, which will be observed across the district from September 17 to October 16.

He said the eighth edition of Poshan Maah will be celebrated on the theme “Right Nutrition, Healthy Life.” Since its launch in 2018, Poshan Abhiyaan has been observed every September to eliminate malnutrition and build a healthier society.

Kashyap highlighted that this year’s campaign will emphasise reducing sugar, salt and oil consumption to check obesity, promoting “Vocal for Local,” integrating nutrition with Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), strengthening infant and child feeding practices, encouraging male participation and adopting digital tools for outreach.

He said all 2,154 anganwadi centres in the district will organise activities at the village, block and panchayat levels to transform the campaign into a mass movement. On September 17, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the “Swasth Nari, Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaan” and provide benefits to women under the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY).

Urging people to actively participate, Kashyap underlined the nutritional value of local produce like gucchi and lingad and stressed their inclusion in children’s diets. He directed officials to promote spinach cultivation in anganwadi centres, design region-specific diet plans and engage AYUSH yoga guides for holistic child development.