Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 09 April 2025
The 7th edition of POSHAN Pakhwada was inaugurated with great enthusiasm on April 8, 2025, at the Prothrapur Community Hall, reaffirming the collective commitment toward building a malnutrition-free India. The event marked the beginning of a two-week nationwide campaign focused on nutrition and health, particularly for women, children, and adolescents.
The inaugural function was graced by Ms. Gurjeet Kaur, Block Development Officer (BDO), Prothrapur, along with Ward No. 23 Councillor Ms. Radhika Dheeraj, ANMs, ICDS staff, Anganwadi Workers, and members of the general public.
POSHAN Pakhwada 2025, which runs from April 8 to 22 under the Government of India’s flagship POSHAN Abhiyaan, aims to reinforce critical nutritional practices and engage communities through inclusive, grassroots participation. To promote awareness and involvement, creative competitions such as Rangoli and Recipe contests were organized for the general public and Anganwadi Workers, highlighting the importance of traditional culinary knowledge in promoting balanced diets.
Addressing the gathering, the Child Development Project Officer (CDPO), Urban Project, emphasized the significance of the fortnight-long initiative. She highlighted key thematic areas of this year’s campaign, including the importance of the first 1,000 days of life, effective use of the Beneficiary Module, management of malnutrition through the Community-Based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM), and encouraging healthy lifestyle practices to combat childhood obesity.
BDO Ms. Gurjeet Kaur, the ANM, and Councillor Ms. Radhika Dheeraj also shared their insights, stressing the importance of community collaboration in achieving the goals of the POSHAN Abhiyaan. Their remarks echoed a unified vision: only through consistent community involvement and awareness can sustainable improvements in public health and nutrition be achieved.