The Global Program India- Bihar Nutrition and Food Security Partners joined the Rashtriya Poshan Maah – 2021 (RPM) and carried out the activity in 5 districts- Kaimur, Patna, Purnea, Saharsa, and Munger. It is a part of an inter-ministerial program Poshan Abhiyan which aims to achieve improvement in the nutritional status of children up to six years of age, adolescent girls, pregnant women, and lactating mothers.

This program is crucial as it is one of the Prime Minister’s overreaching national agenda for holistic nourishment. To amplify and ensure the on-ground tangibility of this initiative every September is delineated as the ‘Rashtriya Poshan Maah (National Nutrition Month)’.

This year’s activities were subdivided into weekly themes focused on Plantation Drive for POSHAN VATIKA (Nutri-Gardens) at Gram Panchayats, Anganwadis, & School Premises, etc. In this regard, Saplings of nutritious fruit trees, local vegetables, and medicinal plants & herbs have been planted. This activity was carried out to improve holistic nutrition and build the community’s nutritional resilience. In this month large-scale campaigns to disseminate information on complimentary food, treatment, and prevention from infectious diseases in children are also carried out by various Ministries & Departments of the Government and Civil Society Organisations.

Global Program India partners leveraged their niche and focused on the theme POSHAN VATIKA and ensured plantation of over 150 saplings at Complementary Education Centres, Anganwadi centers, and available space in village areas. This plantation drive consisted of nutritious fruit trees & local vegetables (Guava, Drumstick, Blackberry, Mango, Papaya, Lemon, etc). Children, men, and women from the community were encouraged to plant to arouse ownership of the initiative and develop connect between humans and flora. A pledge was also taken by the members of the community to protect them.

All partners namely Shahbad Perish society, Prayas Gramin Vikas Samiti, Patna Jesuit Society, Purnea Social and Education Society, Bihar Dalit Vikas Samiti observed this month in their respective districts across 50 villages, the topics such as, awareness on Balanced Diet, locally available Nutritious Food through demonstration of Food/Grains/Vegetables which are high in Nutrition among the community members to make the learning interesting. Further, creative activities engaging the village and panchayat level stakeholders were done. The key highlight of the celebration was children and mothers took the role of facilitator to create awareness through Plantation drive, Nutritious Food/diet demonstration.

Aanganwadi workers and PRI Leaders actively participated in this initiative and appreciated the efforts.