The Ministry of Women and Child Development inaugurated the 9th Rashtriya Poshan Maah 2026 on September 9 at the Rudraksh International Cooperation and Convention Centre in Varanasi. The launch marked the beginning of a month‑long nationwide Jan Andolan for nutrition, themed “Hamari Anganwadi, Hamari Jimmedari,” aimed at strengthening community responsibility for child and maternal nutrition.
The ceremony was attended by several senior officials, including Shri Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh; Smt. Annpurna Devi, Union Minister for Women and Child Development; Smt. Savitri Thakur, Minister of State for Women and Child Development; and Smt. Baby Rani Maurya, Minister for Women Welfare, Child Development and Nutrition of Uttar Pradesh. Representatives from central and state governments, development partners, frontline workers and beneficiaries also joined the event.
In her keynote address, Smt. Annpurna Devi underscored the government’s commitment to improving nutrition outcomes through Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0. She highlighted that over 14 lakh Anganwadi centres serve more than 7.5 crore children, 1.10 crore pregnant and lactating women, and nearly 16 lakh adolescent girls. The minister noted the upgrade of 2 lakh centres into Saksham Anganwadis, with around 24,000 centres approved in Uttar Pradesh. She also celebrated the tenth anniversary of the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, which has transferred over Rs. 21,000 crore to 4.65 crore mothers.
Annpurna Devi called for greater community participation to improve dietary diversity, protein intake, fresh hot meals, sanitation and early childhood development. She urged citizens to transform nutrition into a true Jan Andolan, aligning with the vision of a Suposhit Bharat and a Viksit Bharat by 2047.
