At Poshan Maah’s 8th anniversary in Kurukshetra, CM unveils Poshan Calendar, stresses women’s health as foundation of a strong India
Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh-
Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini on Tuesday inaugurated 500 renovated Anganwadi buildings and 64 newly constructed centres across the state, built at a total cost of Rs. 24 crore. The Chief Minister said the state government is committed to further strengthening services related to child and maternal nutrition, health, and early education.
He was speaking at the state-level function in Kurukshetra to mark the 8th anniversary of Poshan Maah on Tuesday. On the occasion, he unveiled a special ‘Poshan Calendar’ and honoured Anganwadi workers for their contribution. Along with other dignitaries, the Chief Minister also visited an exhibition showcasing schemes related to women’s health, family well-being and nutrition.
Extending greetings on Durga Ashtami, Saini said it was symbolic that the celebration of Poshan Maah was taking place on the sacred land of Kurukshetra on this auspicious day. He recalled that since 2018, Poshan Maah has been observed nationwide to address women’s health challenges. Women often neglect their own health because of their devotion to family responsibilities. Recognising this, Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi launched the nationwide Poshan Abhiyaan from Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan, on March 8, 2018, he said.
Over the past eight years, the campaign has become a key movement to protect women’s health and eliminate child malnutrition. Its focus is on improving nutrition among children below six years, adolescent girls, pregnant women, and lactating mothers. This year’s Poshan Maah began on September 17, the Prime Minister’s 75th birthday, when he also launched the Swasth Nari – Sashakt Parivar campaign from Madhya Pradesh.
Saini said that the Poshan Abhiyaan has grown from a government initiative into a jan andolan (people’s movement), driven by Anganwadi workers, NGOs, panchayats and youth. This is not a one-day or one-month effort, rather it must continue throughout the year. That’s why the Poshan Calendar has been launched, he said.
Theme focuses on lifestyle change and community participation
The Chief Minister highlighted that the theme of the 8th Poshan Maah is broad and action-oriented, controlling obesity, improving childcare, planting trees in the name of mothers under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign, promoting men’s involvement in child and maternal care, and encouraging local foods. Our aim is not just to spread information but to bring about lasting lifestyle changes, he added.
He said that Poshan Maah is a multi-departmental movement involving education, agriculture, panchayati raj, women & child development, and rural development departments. Through the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), Haryana monitors the health, nutrition, psychological and social development of children up to six years. To strengthen early childhood education, 4,000 play-way schools have been opened for children aged 3 to 6 years. The 2025–26 budget provides for another 2,000 play-way schools to be run within Anganwadi centres.
Healthy women build strong families, strong families build a strong India- CM
The Chief Minister said that women’s health is the biggest asset of a family. A Swasth Nari builds a Sashakt Parivar, and strong families build a strong India. He said that lakhs of health camps are being organised nationwide in response to the Prime Minister’s call, where women undergo regular health check-ups. He urged all mothers and sisters to make their health a priority and participate in these camps.
Haryana has also become the first state in the country to implement a Comprehensive Crèche Policy for working women. The Centre has approved converting 628 Anganwadi centres into Anganwadi-cum-crèches. Currently, 500 crèches are operational, of these, 303 were upgraded Anganwadi centers. The remaining 197 are standalone creches. More than 3,670 working women are benefiting from these creche services, shared Sh. Nayab Singh Saini.
10 lakh children and 2.5 lakh mothers benefit from nutrition schemes
The Chief Minister said that the state is implementing a Supplementary Nutrition Programme for over 10.47 lakh children and 2.67 lakh pregnant and lactating mothers. The Mukhyamantri Doodh Uphaar Yojana provides fortified milk to around 8.28 lakh children and 3 lakh mothers. Financial assistance is also provided under maternity schemes, like Rs. 5,000 under the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana for the first child, Rs. 6,000 for a second girl child, and Rs. 5,000 for a second boy child under the state’s Mukhyamantri Matritva Sahayata Yojana.