(GIST OF KURUKSHETRA) Nourishing India’s Future

(OCTOBER-2025)

Nourishing India’s Future

Context:

Eighth Poshan Maah also focuses on the importance of addressing obesity by reducing sugar and oil consumption, encouraging men’s active involvement in nutrition and caregiving, Vocal for Local- for Grassroots Empowerment and Self Reliance; and Convergent Actions & Digitisation.

About: Infant & Young Child Feeding

Among these, IYCF (Infant & Young Child Feeding) stands out as the bedrock of nutrition security. How we feed our youngest citizens in the first 1,000 days of life- beginning from conception to two years of age— shapes not just their growth and health, but the very foundations of their learning, productivity, and future potential.

The Power of Early Nutrition: Why Superfood (Breast milk) Matters

Evidence from across the world, including India, shows that the window between birth and six months is critical. Indicators of child malnutrition such as stunting and wasting begin to manifest within these very first months of life.
Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months is not only cultural wisdom but also scientifically proven to guard babies from infections, build stronger immunity, promote healthy growth, and reduce infant deaths.

Complementary Feeding: Building Brains and Bodies

From six months of age, a child’s nutritional needs extend beyond breastmilk. The care, nutrition, and stimulation provided in these early years form the foundation for healthy growth and cognitive development.
Scientific research shows that the brain develops most rapidly in the first 1,000 days of life, especially Up to the age of two, and the quantity and quality of food between 6 to 23 months has the greatest impact 0n their growth patterns.
This makes complementary feeding absolutely critical. The WHO recommends introducing complementary foods at six months, alongside continued breastfeeding. From 6 to 8 months, children need two to three small meals in addition to breastfeeding. Between 9 and 24 months, this should increase to three to four meals a day, with one or two healthy snacks for toddlers between 12 and 24 months.
Dietary Diversity is Key. These foods must be nutrient-rich, limited in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats, and should draw from all major food groups-cereals and pulses, milk products, eggs, meat or fish, along with fruits and vegetables. An important consideration is to spread awareness about avoiding junk foods and sugar- sweetened beverages at this age, which can have long-term implications for a child’s health.

Responsive Feeding and Shared Responsibility

Feeding is not only about food-it is about holistic care. An important consideration is to promote responsive feeding, which is about creating a two way, nurturing interaction between the caregiver and child.
It not only encourages children to eat but also helps them develop healthy food preferences and gradually learn to eat independently.
Research shows that responsive feeding— when caregivers interact warmly with children at mealtimes and pay attention to signs of hunger and satiety-helps establish healthy food Preferences, reduces risks of undernutrition and obesity and fosters both emotional and cognitive growth.

From Policy to Ground Action

The Ministry of Women and child Development is committed to translating science-based feeding practices into real change— moving from research to policy, and from policy to practice at the community level.
Through Anganwadi services, home-based counselling, community events, we are working to ensure that every family has access to the right knowledge at the right time and create a Jan Andolan people’s movement).
Policies and programmes can only succeed when families and communities embrace them. By adopting and promoting IYCF practices— exclusive breastfeeding for six months, timely and diverse complementary feeding, and responsive caregiving— we can reduce malnutrition and place our children on a path to health, learning, and productivity.

Conclusion:

As we mark Poshan Maah, let us remember nourished children mean a nourished nation. Together, let us pledge to make every home and every community a champion of child nutrition.