Madhya Pradesh is enthusiastically observing the 7th “Nutrition Fortnight” from April 8 to 22, 2025 with heightened awareness. As in previous years, this time too, efforts are being made across the state to prevent malnutrition and promote a balanced lifestyle through various public awareness activities.
The central government’s objective with this vital campaign is to lay the foundation of a healthy society by educating the public, especially women and children, on the importance of nutrition.
Nutrition Fortnight 2025 is focusing on four key areas such as the importance of the first 1000 golden days of life, awareness and utility of the beneficiary module in the Poshan Tracker App, management of severely malnourished children through CMAM protocol and preventing obesity in children under the age of six.
The first 1000 golden days, starting from pregnancy to the child’s second birthday, are extremely crucial for mental and physical development. During this time, 85% of a child’s intellectual development occurs. Special emphasis is being laid on nutrition and care during this period, encouraging mothers to follow a balanced diet and practice breastfeeding.
Monitoring nutrition levels from home is now possible through the Poshan Tracker App (poshantracker.in). This app not only digitizes Anganwadi services but also empowers beneficiaries to track the nutritional status of children and mothers. Developed by the Government of India, the beneficiary module allows users to log in with their registered mobile number and monitor the nutritional status of children, as well as the nutritional supplements received from the centers, all from home.
The Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) strategy, initiated in 2020 under the Chief Minister’s Child Health Promotion Program, focuses on managing severe malnutrition at the community level. During Nutrition Fortnight, identification of children suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM), Severe Underweight (SUW), and Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM) is conducted.
Their health is assessed, hunger levels in SAM children are checked, and necessary treatment and nutrition management is done with the support of families at the community level.
According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS), the rising obesity rate in children is a matter of concern. To address this, the government has adopted a policy to keep children away from junk food and promote nutritious food. During Nutrition Fortnight, children are being encouraged to consume healthy meals, and through the Poshan Tracker, children at risk of obesity are identified and their parents are provided with nutritional counseling.
Theme-based activities, yoga sessions, sports events, nutrition rallies, cycle rallies, anemia awareness camps, lunch box competitions, and group discussions are being organized at Anganwadi centers across the state. Registration on the Poshan Tracker is being actively promoted to ensure proper monitoring of nutritional status and timely resolution of related issues for mothers and children.
