New Delhi, April 9 Union Women and Child Development Minister Annapurna Devi said on Thursday that the Poshan Abhiyaan should become a "people's movement" and stressed the need to reduce children's screen time and improve nutrition in the first six years of life.
Launching the eighth edition of Poshan Pakhwada under the theme "Maximising brain development in the first six years of life", Devi said the campaign is not merely a nutrition programme but an effort to turn it into a "people's movement" (jan andolan).
"The first six years of a child's life are the most important. Eighty-five per cent of brain development takes place during this period, so we all have to pay attention to it," she said.
"This is not just a Poshan Abhiyaan; there are efforts to make it a 'people's movement' under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi," Devi added.
Minister of State for Women and Child Development Savitri Thakur, Women and Child Development Secretary Anil Malik, and Joint Secretary Radhika Jha were also present at the event.
Devi said children are the future of the country, and ensuring proper nutrition in the early years is essential for achieving the goal of a developed India.
"There can be nothing more important than ensuring a better future for our children," the minister said.
Devi said the women and child development ministry has a vast network of around 14 lakh Anganwadi centres across the country, reaching nearly every village and household.
She said more than 8.9 crore beneficiaries are linked with Anganwadi centres and credited Anganwadi workers for continuing their work in all seasons.
"Whether it is summer, winter or rain, Anganwadi didis (aunties) reach pregnant women, mothers and children and guide them about nutrition and childcare," she said.
The minister said states should identify aspirational districts and blocks that are lagging behind and encourage them to learn from better-performing areas.
"States should adopt best practices and create competition within the state. Better-performing districts should guide districts that are lagging," she said.
Devi said nutrition is a continuous process and cannot be confined to a fortnight-long campaign.
"On one hand, we are talking about obesity, and on the other, there are underweight children. Both are problems, and we all need to pay attention to them," she said, adding that there is a need to create greater public awareness on balanced nutrition.
She said people need to spend more time with children.
"When children are given screens, they remain occupied with mobile phones, and their mental development does not happen in the right way," she said.
"Earlier, in joint families, grandparents and other family members spent time with children, talked to them, and played with them. We need to bring that back," she said.
She urged parents and caregivers to spend more time with children and reduce their screen exposure.
The minister said the Poshan Tracker app is being expanded to make the work of Anganwadi workers easier. She said the app has helped workers move away from manual registers and provide alerts for home visits and child monitoring.
Devi also referred to the Aadharshila initiative, under which Anganwadi workers are provided short videos to guide them on age-appropriate learning for children.
She said efforts are also being made to strengthen Saksham Anganwadi through child-friendly centres, including wall paintings and learning material.
The minister said the Pankhudi portal aims to connect social organisations and other institutions with Anganwadi centres so they can contribute to child welfare.
"The children who come to Anganwadi centres are the future of the country and also its foundation. It is very important to strengthen this foundation," she said.
Devi urged states to pay greater attention to regions that continue to lag behind and assured them that the Centre would extend all support.
"This programme will continue for 15 days, but it should not stop there. Nutrition is a continuous process, and we must keep taking it forward," she said.
