Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 18 October 2025
The valedictory ceremony of the 8th Rashtriya Poshan Maah (National Nutrition Month) 2025, organized by all ICDS Projects under the Directorate of Social Welfare, A&N Administration, was held with great enthusiasm on October 16, 2025, at Government Girls School, Sri Vijaya Puram.
Celebrated every year in September, Poshan Maah aims to eradicate malnutrition and promote healthy nutrition and lifestyle practices among communities. The campaign, a flagship initiative under the Prime Minister’s POSHAN Abhiyaan, encourages citizens to adopt nutritious diets and health-conscious habits.
Ms. Chanchal Yadav, IAS, Commissioner-cum-Secretary (Social Welfare), graced the occasion as the chief guest. The event was attended by Mr. L. Kumar, IAS, Secretary (Social Welfare); Mr. Ravinder Kumar, Director (Social Welfare); Dr. Suja Antony, Director of Health Services; Dr. Malavika Roy from AYUSH; Dr. Siddaraju, Deputy Director (Health); and Ms. Pratibha Rohan, Program Lead, Rocket Learning Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi. A large number of Anganwadi Workers and beneficiaries also participated in the event.
In her address, the chief guest emphasized that nutrition is the cornerstone of a healthy and prosperous society. She lauded the dedicated efforts of Anganwadi and ASHA workers in spreading health and nutrition awareness at the grassroots level.
A Nutrition Exhibition was also organized on the occasion, where Anganwadi Workers displayed nutritious recipes made from local ingredients such as millets and coarse grains, underscoring the importance of balanced, locally sourced diets.
Welcoming the gathering, Mr. Ravinder Kumar highlighted the objectives of the Poshan Maah campaign, terming it “a significant step toward building a malnutrition-free India.” Ms. Sarika Varma, Health and Nutrition Consultant (Poshan 2.0), presented a detailed report on the month-long activities conducted across the Islands, including awareness drives, community programmes, and success stories that reflected the campaign’s reach and impact.
A short documentary film showcasing the activities of Poshan Maah was screened, providing an overview of the initiatives undertaken across the Islands.
During the ceremony, two ECCE curriculum books — Aadharshila and Navchetna — were released to strengthen knowledge dissemination and training initiatives under the mission.
A key highlight of the event was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Directorate of Social Welfare and Rocket Learning Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, aimed at enhancing Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) through digital learning and capacity building of Anganwadi Workers. The MoU was signed by Ms. Pratibha Rohan, Program Lead, Rocket Learning Pvt. Ltd., and Mr. Ravinder Kumar, Director (Social Welfare). A brief video presentation by Rocket Learning showcased the outcomes of their ongoing ECCE training programme.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Ms. Zarina Bibi, Programme Officer (ICDS). The grand valedictory function marked the successful culmination of the 8th Rashtriya Poshan Maah and reaffirmed the collective commitment toward achieving a malnutrition-free Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
