Quick Facts
Improved nutrition & health services
Pregnant women, lactating mothers, children (0-6 years), adolescent girls
Ministry of Women and Child Development
Eligibility
To be eligible for the POSHAN Abhiyaan, beneficiaries typically include:
- Pregnant women
- Lactating mothers
- Children aged 0-6 years
- Adolescent girls (14-18 years)
- Residing in the identified districts where the scheme is active.
Benefits: What You Get
POSHAN Abhiyaan primarily focuses on providing services and support to improve nutritional outcomes, rather than direct cash benefits. Key benefits include:
- Supplementary Nutrition: Access to nutritious food through Anganwadi Centres.
- Growth Monitoring: Regular monitoring of children's growth and development.
- Health Services: Facilitation of health check-ups, immunizations, and referrals.
- Nutrition & Health Education: Counseling for mothers on infant and young child feeding practices, hygiene, and sanitation.
- Early Childhood Care and Education: Support for holistic development of children.
- Cost Savings: Access to free services and food supplements significantly reduces household expenditure on nutrition and basic healthcare for beneficiaries.
How to Apply
Application for POSHAN Abhiyaan benefits is typically facilitated through local Anganwadi Centres.
- Visit Your Nearest Anganwadi Centre: Locate the Anganwadi Centre in your village or urban locality.
- Enquire About the Scheme: Speak to the Anganwadi Worker (AWW) or Helper (AWH) about POSHAN Abhiyaan and its specific benefits for your eligibility category.
- Obtain Application Forms: The AWW will guide you on the necessary forms to fill out.
- Submit Required Documents: Provide all the necessary documents as requested by the AWW (see "Required Documents" section below).
- Follow Up: The AWW will assist with the registration process and inform you about the services you can avail.
For more information, you may visit the official Ministry of Women and Child Development website: wcd.nic.in
Required Documents
While specific requirements may vary slightly by state, common documents needed for registration include:
- Aadhaar Card of the beneficiary (mother/child)
- Proof of Residence (e.g., Ration Card, Voter ID, Utility Bill)
- Birth Certificate (for children)
- Pregnancy/Lactation Certificate (from a registered medical practitioner, for pregnant/lactating women)
- Bank Account Details (for any potential future direct benefit transfers, though rare for this scheme)
Helpline
For general inquiries related to schemes under the Ministry of Women and Child Development, you can contact:
Ministry of Women and Child Development Helpline: 1800-11-2333
You can also reach out to your local Anganwadi Worker for scheme-specific assistance.
FAQ
Q1: What is POSHAN Abhiyaan?
A1: POSHAN Abhiyaan, also known as the National Nutrition Mission, is the Government of India's flagship program to improve nutritional outcomes for children, adolescent girls, pregnant women, and lactating mothers.
Q2: What are the main objectives of POSHAN Abhiyaan?
A2: The main objectives include reducing stunting, under-nutrition, anemia (among young children, women, and adolescent girls), and low birth weight. It aims to achieve these through a multi-sectoral approach.
Q3: How does POSHAN Abhiyaan work?
A3: It leverages technology, convergence, and community mobilization to deliver services like supplementary nutrition, growth monitoring, health check-ups, and nutrition education through Anganwadi Centres.
Q4: Is there any direct financial benefit under POSHAN Abhiyaan?
A4: POSHAN Abhiyaan primarily focuses on providing services, food supplements, and health support. It does not typically involve direct cash transfers, but rather aims to improve health and nutrition through comprehensive interventions, thereby indirectly saving beneficiaries' expenses.