Nand Ghar marks Poshan Maah with programmes for mothers, children and fathers

The 9th National Poshan Maah 2026 concluded recently. Following it, Nand Ghar, the flagship initiative of the Anil Agarwal Foundation (AAF), the social initiatives arm of Vedanta, said it remains committed to making nutrition a shared responsibility of families and communities. Under "Nand Ghar ka Mission, Sampoorna Poshan", various programmes brought together children, mothers, fathers and local communities in an effort to take nutrition awareness into everyday life.

National Poshan Maah, observed under the Government of India's Poshan Abhiyaan 2.0, aims to make nutrition a people's movement through the collective participation of families, communities, frontline workers and institutions. In line with this, Nand Ghar is not limited to spreading awareness. It stresses building practical and lasting nutrition habits in homes and communities.

Nand Ghar is modernising the anganwadi system in India. Through modern, technology-equipped centres, it has brought nutrition, child care and early education, primary healthcare and women's empowerment services under one roof. Through more than 16,000 Nand Ghars in 18 states, the initiative has reached more than 5 lakh children and more than 4 lakh women.

Nand Ghar's approach rests on the understanding that children's nutrition and health are directly linked to their mothers' health, knowledge and ability to make decisions. If women get the right information on diet, community support and opportunities to strengthen their livelihoods, families can be healthier and nutrition outcomes more lasting.

Expert-led discussions during Poshan Maah included a special session by nutritionist Dr Vandana Verma. In these sessions, mothers and caregivers were told about children's nutritional needs, balanced diets and practical ways to include nutritious items in daily meals. Questions were answered, experiences were shared and confidence in adopting healthy eating grew.

The Mothers' Food Preparation Programme draws on the knowledge of local women. It helps build healthy eating habits in children and promotes community participation. Involving mothers in the cooking process allows information to be exchanged, healthy cooking methods to be demonstrated and nutrition to become a collective responsibility. So far, about 2 lakh mothers have participated in the programme and about 15 lakh nutritious meals have been distributed.

In the Healthy Thali initiative, children were taught about balanced nutrition through drawing and creative activities. They were introduced to a variety of nutritious foods. These age-appropriate interactive programmes sought to instil healthy eating habits at an early age.

The "Papa ke Poshan" initiative was built on the idea that responsibility for children's nutrition lies not with the mother alone but with the entire family. In programmes held in Visakhapatnam and Hyderabad, fathers and children came together and learnt about healthy diets, care and the family's role in children's development.

The Poshan Mela initiatives celebrated women's knowledge and creativity. Women prepared nutritious dishes from locally available ingredients and presented affordable and traditional foods. The initiatives also honoured women as guides and motivators on nutrition in their families and communities.

Nand Ghar chief executive officer (CEO) Shashi Arora said, "Our chairman Shri Anil Agarwal's vision for Nand Ghar is that every child be enabled through nutrition, education and proper care, and that women be empowered to build a healthier and more secure future. To tackle the roots of malnutrition effectively, aware and active mothers, supportive families and opportunities for women to strengthen their livelihoods are essential. When women have the knowledge, authority and economic opportunities to make informed decisions, their children and the whole family benefit. In line with the Government of India's Poshan Abhiyaan 2.0, our goal is to make nutrition a community-based movement and to take positive change from Nand Ghar to every home."

Nand Ghar's emphasis on nutrition is linked to the larger goals of women's empowerment. By building women's skills, livelihoods and decision-making ability, they are enabled to make better-informed decisions for themselves and their families. Economically capable women can make more effective decisions on household priorities such as food, healthcare and children's development. This approach holds that tackling malnutrition requires more than changing eating habits; it also requires strengthening the social and economic conditions in which families make nutrition-related decisions.

Even after the conclusion of the 9th National Poshan Maah, Nand Ghar is committed to turning awareness into long-term behavioural change. By engaging children from an early age, giving mothers an active role in nutrition initiatives, encouraging fathers to share care responsibilities and empowering women, it seeks to make nutrition a continuing priority for families and communities. The ultimate aim is that healthy habits are not confined to the anganwadi but become part of everyday life in every home and community in India.