Union Minister of State for Women and Child Development, Savitri Thakur, on Tuesday raised serious concern over the growing issue of childhood obesity in India, pointing to the increasing consumption of oily and non-nutritive food among children. Speaking at the launch of the seventh edition of Poshan Pakhwada, Thakur emphasized the need to address over-nutrition alongside undernourishment.
“In today’s times, nutrition challenges are not restricted to malnutrition alone. The alarming rise in childhood obesity due to unhealthy dietary habits has become a major concern,” Thakur said during her inaugural address. She added that the excessive intake of oily snacks and junk food not only leads to weight gain but also increases the risk of several health complications in children.
The two-week Poshan Pakhwada 2025 campaign forms a vital part of the Centre’s flagship Poshan Abhiyaan and aims to promote awareness about nutrition through grassroots participation. This year’s campaign focuses on four key themes: the importance of the first 1,000 days of life, active use of the Poshan Tracker’s citizen module, community-based management of malnutrition (CMAM), and encouraging healthy lifestyles to combat obesity.
Thakur underscored the role of behavioural change and community involvement in fostering a “health-focused environment,” reiterating the need to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and no mother is left without proper nourishment.
“Echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision, we must adopt a united approach to promote healthier eating habits and active living among children,” the minister said. She urged Anganwadi workers and state officials to increase community outreach through home visits and local referral services.
Since the launch of the Poshan Abhiyaan in 2018, more than 100 crore awareness activities have been conducted, according to Thakur. She said this year’s pakhwada would see intensified efforts at the village level to educate families and ensure compliance with nutrition norms via the Poshan Tracker.
Union Women and Child Development Minister Annpurna Devi is also set to visit Arunachal Pradesh during the first week of the campaign to assess ground-level initiatives aimed at improving maternal and child nutrition.
Aligned with Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, Poshan Pakhwada 2025 involves coordinated efforts from multiple ministries, including Health, Education, Rural Development, and Jal Shakti, as part of a broader Jan Andolan (people’s movement) to enhance health and nutrition outcomes across the country.
