8th Rashtriya Poshan Maah 2025 concludes in Dehradun: Nation Celebrates Nutrition and Empowerment
8th Rashtriya Poshan Maah 2025 concludes in Dehradun: Nation Celebrates Nutrition and Empowerment
Good nutrition fuels growth, opportunity, and resilience. With millions of Anganwadi workers, community members, and families actively participating, 8th Rashtriya Poshan Maah 2025 showcased India’s collective commitment to the health and empowerment of women and children.
The concluding ceremony of the 8th Rashtriya Poshan Maah 2025 was held today at the Himalayan Cultural Centre Dehradun, Uttrakhand marking the culmination of a month-long nationwide Jan Andolan dedicated to nutrition awareness and action.
Addressing the gathering through a video message, Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt. Annpurna Devi, congratulated all States and Union Territories for their proactive efforts during Poshan Maah. She emphasized that nutrition is not a one-day campaign but a continuous journey towards building a healthy life and a prosperous society—where every child is healthy, every mother is empowered, and every family is well-nourished.
The Minister recalled the inspiring words of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi during the launch of Poshan Abhiyaan, stating that “every healthy woman, every empowered family, and every nourished childhood is the foundation of Viksit Bharat.”
She highlighted that the remarkable progress achieved today is the outcome of the dedication of millions of Anganwadi workers, the awareness of mothers, and the active participation of communities across the country.
The concluding ceremony was graced by Smt. Savitri Thakur, Minister of State in the Ministry of Women and Child Development, as the Chief Guest, along with Smt. Rekha Arya, Cabinet Minister, Women Empowerment and Child Development, Government of Uttarakhand, and Shri Ganesh Joshi, Cabinet Minister, Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Soldier Welfare and Rural Development,Government of
Uttarakhand. Senior officials from the Central and State Government also participated.
In her address, Minister of State in the Ministry of Women and Child Development , Smt. Savitri Thakur lauded the efforts of Anganwadi workers and frontline teams who have transformed Poshan Abhiyaan from a scheme into a nationwide movement. She emphasised that since its inception in 2018, the campaign has mobilised over 140 crore community-based activities, strengthening the vision that “every child is nourished, every mother empowered, and every community strengthened”
She further added “Poshan is not just a scheme — it is a national responsibility.
A beginning where nutrition is not merely a programme, but a culture; not an event, but a movement; and not a month, but a way of life.”
Speaking on the occasion, Smt. Rekha Arya, Cabinet Minister, Women Empowerment & Child Development, Uttarakhand, highlighted the importance of local foods, millet inclusion, and nutrition awareness among hilly and tribal communities, reflecting the spirit of ‘Vocal for Local’. The Minister praised ICT governance tool Poshan Tracker as a revolutionary mobile application that has brought transparency in service delivery and tracking at Anganwadis. It has also helped AWWs as a digital job aid.
Shri Ganesh Joshi, Cabinet Minister for Rural Development, Government of Uttarakhand, emphasised the importance of promoting locally produced foods, especially indigenous millets and pulses that are deeply rooted in the traditional diet of Uttarakhand. He noted that millets such as mandua (ragi) and jhangora (barnyard millet), along with locally grown pulses, are not only rich in nutrition but also resilient to the hill state’s climatic conditions. He highlighted that “local is the real game-changer for health”. He cautioned against the growing trend of fast-food consumption and called for a return to wholesome, homegrown diets that promote both wellness and self-reliance. He reiterated that Uttarakhand can lead by example in linking nutrition, livelihoods, and sustainable agriculture through the wider promotion of local food brands.
Shri Lav Agarwal, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development, highlighted that since its launch in 1975, Anganwadi services has evolved into the world’s largest early childhood care and development programme, serving over 9 crore beneficiaries through 14 lakh Anganwadi Centres. He noted that 99.55% Aadhaar authentication and digital integration through the Poshan Tracker have ensured transparency and efficiency, while 2 lakh Anganwadi Centres are being upgraded into modern, child-friendly “Saksham” centres equipped with smart devices and growth monitoring tools.
The ceremony featured felicitation of Poshan Champions and Mission Shakti Champions, distribution of Mahalakshmi Kits and Poshan Kits for adolescent girls, and the online release of the ‘Vatsalya’ instalment for children from COVID-affected families. Dignitaries also interacted with Anganwadi Workers and Helpers and commended their grassroots service.
This year’s Poshan Maah 2025 witnessed more than 14 crore activities across six thematic pillars: addressing obesity in children, early childhood care and education (ECCE) through Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi, strengthening Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices, engaging men in nutrition (Men-streaming), promoting local foods (Vocal for Local), and enhancing convergence and digitisation for improved service delivery.
For the first time, “Men-streaming” was introduced as a key theme of Poshan Maah, recognising the vital role of men in ensuring family and child nutrition. Across the country, over 1.5 crore activities were conducted under this theme, involving fathers, male caregivers, and community leaders to promote shared responsibility and gender-inclusive nutrition practices.
Thematic activities under other focus areas were also conducted on a massive scale. Over 14 crore activities were reported nationwide across the remaining five themes, including 2.55 crore on addressing childhood obesity, 3.2 crore on convergence and digitisation, 2.26 crore on IYCF practices, 2.19 crore on ECCE and Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi, and 1.2 crore on Vocal for Local initiatives that encouraged use of traditional and locally produced nutritious foods. These widespread activities reinforced the integrated, community-driven spirit of the Poshan Jan Andolan.
Through these collective efforts, Poshan Maah 2025 not only addressed today’s nutrition challenges but also laid a strong foundation for a healthier future. The Ministry emphasised that children benefiting from Anganwadi services today will, by 2047, be the healthy, capable youth driving India’s growth story.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 and to realising the collective resolve towards a Suposhit and Viksit Bharat.
The 8th Rashtriya Poshan Maah was inaugurated by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 17th September 2025 from Dhar, Madhya Pradesh, under the overarching theme ‘Swasth Nari, Sashakt Parivaar’, placing women’s health and family empowerment at the heart of India’s nutrition strategy.