Sri Vijaya Puram, Oct. 16: The valedictory ceremony of the 8th Rashtriya Poshan Maah (National Nutrition Month) 2025, organized by all ICDS Projects under Directorate of Social Welfare, A&N Administration, was held with great enthusiasm today at the Government Girls School, Sri Vijaya Puram.
Celebrated every year in September, Poshan Maah aims to eliminate malnutrition and promote healthy nutrition and lifestyle practices among communities. The campaign is a flagship initiative under the Prime Minister’s POSHAN Abhiyaan, focused on encouraging citizens to adopt nutritious diets and health-conscious habits.
The event was graced by Ms. Chanchal Yadav, IAS Commissioner-cum-Secretary (Social Welfare), as the chief guest. Among the dignitaries present were Shri L. Kumar, IAS Secretary (Social Welfare), Shri Ravinder Kumar, Director (Social Welfare), Dr. Suja Antony, Director of Health Services, Dr. Malavika Roy from AYUSH, Dr. Siddaraju, Deputy Director (Health), and Ms. Pratibha Rohan, Program Lead, Rocket Learning Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi. A large number of Anganwadi Workers and beneficiaries also attended the ceremony.
In her address, the chief guest underlined the importance of nutrition as the foundation of a healthy and prosperous society. She appreciated the tireless efforts of Anganwadi and ASHA Workers in promoting health and nutrition awareness at the grassroots level.
As part of the event, a Nutrition Exhibition was organized, where Anganwadi Workers showcased nutritious recipes made from local ingredients such as millets and coarse grains, highlighting the importance of locally sourced and balanced diets.
In his welcome address, Director (Social Welfare) emphasized the objectives of the Poshan Maah campaign, describing it as “a significant step towards building a malnutrition-free India.”
Smt. Sarika Varma, Health and Nutrition Consultant (Poshan 2.0), presented a detailed report on the month-long activities carried out across the Islands. She highlighted various programmes, awareness drives, and success stories that demonstrated community participation and impact.
A short documentary film on the activities of Poshan Maah was also screened, giving the audience an insight into the depth and reach of the campaign.
The event also witnessed the release of two ECCE curriculum books — “Aadharshila” and “Navchetna” — aimed at strengthening knowledge dissemination and training initiatives under the mission.
Additionally, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Directorate of Social Welfare and Rocket Learning Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi to enhance Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) through digital learning and capacity building of Anganwadi workers. A brief video presentation by Rocket Learning showcased the outcomes of their ongoing ECCE training programme.
The MoU was signed by Ms. Pratibha Rohal, Program Lead, Rocket Learning Pvt. Ltd. Company and Shri Ravinder Kumar, Director, Social Welfare. The ceremony concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Smti. Zarina Bibi, Programme Officer (ICDS).
The grand valedictory function not only marked the successful conclusion of the 8th Rashtriya Poshan Maah but also renewed the collective commitment toward achieving a malnutrition-free Andaman & Nicobar Islands.