New Delhi: The Ministry of Women and Child Development on Thursday launched the 8th edition of Poshan Pakhwada, a nationwide campaign aimed at strengthening awareness about nutrition and early childhood development. The campaign is being observed from April 9 to April 23.
The programme was launched at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi by Union Minister for Women and Child Development Annpurna Devi in the presence of Minister of State Savitri Thakur and WCD Secretary Anil Malik, along with representatives from partner ministries and states.
The theme of Poshan Pakhwada 2026 is “Maximizing Brain Development in the First Six Years of Life”. The Ministry said scientific evidence shows that more than 85 per cent of brain development takes place by the age of six, making early childhood a critical period for nutrition, caregiving and learning. It also highlighted that the first 1,000 days of a child’s life, from pregnancy until the age of two, are crucial for brain development, physical growth and overall well-being.
The initiative is part of the government’s Poshan Abhiyaan launched in 2018 to improve nutritional outcomes in the country. According to the Ministry, more than 150 crore sensitisation activities and over 9.8 crore community-based events have been carried out since the programme began.
Addressing the gathering, Annpurna Devi said Poshan Maah and Poshan Pakhwada have evolved into a true Jan Andolan with crores of activities taking place across the country. She said Anganwadi workers, Anganwadi helpers and ASHA workers are taking the programme to every household and working to fulfil the vision set by the Prime Minister.
She said the country currently has more than 14 lakh Anganwadi centres that serve nearly 8.9 crore beneficiaries, including pregnant women, lactating mothers, adolescent girls and children. She added that children are the future of the nation and ensuring better nutrition for them is a collective responsibility that must be taken forward as a people’s movement.
Minister of State Savitri Thakur said eight Poshan Maahs and seven Poshan Pakhwadas have been organised since 2018, reflecting the government’s continued commitment to improving nutrition. She noted that while nutrition remains central, responsive caregiving and early learning are equally important for the holistic development of children.
WCD Secretary Anil Malik highlighted the importance of healthy dietary practices and recalled that the Prime Minister has often stressed the need to reduce excessive oil consumption and adopt nutritious food habits.
During the launch event, initiatives related to early childhood care and development were showcased, including the distribution of Vidyarambh certificates and the screening of a film depicting a day in the life of an Anganwadi worker.
During the two-week campaign, Anganwadi centres across the country will conduct awareness sessions, home visits and community programmes to promote maternal and child nutrition, breastfeeding, complementary feeding and early learning activities. Poshan Melas and other outreach programmes will also be organised to encourage healthy habits among children and families.
The campaign will involve Anganwadi workers, ASHAs, ANMs, teachers, self-help groups, Panchayati Raj institutions and local communities, with the aim of strengthening community participation and improving nutrition and child development outcomes across the country.
(DD News)