Budget speech 2021-22 stated that “We shall adopt an intensified strategy to improve nutritional outcomes across 112 Aspirational Districts” and Supplementary Nutrition Programme and the Poshan Abhiyan would be merged and Mission Poshan 2.0 would be launched. In this year’s Budget speech 2022-23 also stated that Poshan 2.0 was ‘launched recently. However, there were no signs of Mission Poshan 2.0 during the last year–perhaps because of the pandemic – But even this year, no orders regarding Poshan2.0 seem to have been issued. And there’s nothing on the Ministry of Women and Child Development website, even after one month. Strange indeed, writes Veena S Rao, IAS (Retd) former Secretary, Govt of India and an expert on development issues and governance, particularly malnutrition. 

By Veena S Rao, IAS (Retd) former Secretary, Govt of India

I had written a piece ‘Nourishing the Nation’ which appeared in the Indian Express on January 9, 2021, where I had recommended that additional and more intensive interventions should be introduced in high-burden districts and chronically malnourished pockets with the poorest indicators. https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/covid-19-pandemic-anaemia-malnutrition-7139073/

It was good to see Para 31 of the Budget speech 2021-22 which stated that “We shall adopt an intensified strategy to improve nutritional outcomes across 112 Aspirational Districts” and that the Supplementary Nutrition Programme and the Poshan Abhiyan would be merged and Mission Poshan 2.0 would be launched.

However, there were no signs of Mission Poshan 2.0 during the last year–perhaps because of the pandemic- but even so, still a little surprising, as implementation of budget announcements is always given the highest priority in every government department.

However, the recent Budget speech 2022-23 stated that Poshan 2.0 was ‘launched recently’ and the Government’s Press Information Bureau (PIB) on February 2, 2022 issued a press release indicating that the Cabinet has recently approved Mission Poshan 2.0. https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1794595

The PIB release suggests that Poshan 2.0 would create a “a strategic shift in nutrition content and delivery and by creation of a convergent ecosystem ...contribute to human capital development of the country… focus on nutrition awareness…”, all of which areurgently needed.

It would appear that Poshan 2.0 is really Anganwadi Services plus Scheme for Adolescent Girls plus PoshanAbhiyaan, and “will rest on the pillars of Convergence, Governance, and Capacity-building”, very very tired words, indeed. But, nevertheless, it would be good to see the nature of the new interventions and “corrective strategies,” which Poshan 2.0 promises, in addition to innovation, ICT interventions, Media Advocacy and Research, Nutrition Awareness strategies, Communication strategies Community Outreach and Jan Andolan.

Most importantly, the new convergence mechanisms must function at community level. While a communication signed by three or four departmental secretaries on Poshan 2.0 would certainly provide a fair amount of convergence satisfaction, outcome oriented convergence must happen only at village level where the anganwadi worker, ASHA worker and the Panchayat Secretary sign joint letters and make joint plans for Poshan 2.0.It is hoped that an additional hand would be provided to monitor this convergence in the village – clearly, the joint letters alone are not a magic wand to do that.

We also look forward to seeing the new or corrected strategy for improving dietary nutrition and bridging the dietary gap which afflicts almost half our population, and hope the financial outlays are more favourable to dietary nutrition than to digital nutrition. 

And also to the new or ‘corrected’ communication strategies to reach the community which families will be able to understand, in place of the abstruse and esoteric celebrity one liners which I’m sure ordinary people in the most backward areas of our country may not fully comprehend, such as, one planet, one health and one future.

As of now, no orders regarding Poshan2.0 seem to have been issued. And there’s nothing on the Ministry of Women and Child Development website, even after one month. Strange indeed. (The views expressed in this article are her own)

Author Veena S Rao, IAS Former Secy, Govt of India

A 1972 batch IAS, Karnataka Cadre, Former Secretary, Govt of India, Ministry for the DoNER; An expert on development issues and governance, particularly malnutrition; Presently leading the Karnataka Comprehensive Nutrition Mission, and with the support of World Bank/Japan Social Development Fund, she completed piloting a unique inter-generational, inter-sectoral strategy, to combat malnutrition and micronutrient deficiency in two of the most backward Blocks in Karnataka successfully; Now replicating this strategy in the most chronic malnutrition areas of Karnataka.