Nagaland recorded 25,440 activities across all 17 districts during the 9th Rashtriya Poshan Maah 2026, reflecting widespread community participation in efforts to improve nutrition, maternal health and early childhood development under the theme “Hamari Anganwadi, Hamari Jimmedari”.

According to data from the Poshan Abhiyaan Jan Andolan dashboard and the State Project Management Unit (SPMU), Department of Social Welfare, as of October 9, Mokokchung topped the State with 3,076 activities, followed by Mon with 2,609, Peren with 2,597, Zunheboto with 2,575 and Tuensang with 2,074.

Wokha recorded 1,834 activities, Longleng 1,804, Phek 1,549, Kohima 1,490, Chümoukedima 1,113 and Dimapur 1,066. Eleven districts crossed the 1,000-activity mark, while the newly formed districts of Niuland, Shamator, Tseminyu, Noklak and Meluri also participated through Anganwadi-led initiatives.

At the heart of Poshan Maah is Jan Andolan, or people’s movement, which recognises nutrition as a shared responsibility rather than the responsibility of the government alone. Led by the Department of Social Welfare under POSHAN Abhiyaan, the campaign encouraged families and communities to take greater ownership of their Anganwadi Centres and make nutrition an integral part of everyday life.

Mothers, fathers, grandparents, youth, Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Village Councils, church and civil society leaders, teachers, health workers and media representatives participated in pledges, rallies, Poshan Melas, recipe demonstrations, hot cooked meal activities and community meetings. These initiatives took nutrition awareness beyond Anganwadi Centres and into communities, encouraging collective action to improve the health and well-being of mothers and children.

The national campaign is led by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD) and was launched under POSHAN Abhiyaan, the Prime Minister’s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nourishment, on March 8, 2018, at Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan. Observed every September, Rashtriya Poshan Maah is complemented by Poshan Pakhwada during March-April and now operates under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0.

The ninth edition was launched nationally on September 9, 2026, with five priority areas: dietary diversity and adequate protein; fresh, hot cooked meals at Anganwadi Centres; community ownership and accountability; childhood nutrition and early stimulation; and marking 10 years of the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY).

Since 2018, more than 150 crore Jan Andolan activities have been conducted nationally through Poshan Maah, Poshan Pakhwada and related community initiatives. As of July 31, 2026, India had nearly 13.99 lakh Anganwadi Centres serving approximately 8.94 crore beneficiaries, including children aged six months to six years, pregnant women, lactating mothers and adolescent girls.

The campaign places particular emphasis on the first 1,000 days, from conception to a child’s second birthday, when adequate nutrition and responsive care are crucial for physical growth, brain development and learning. It also seeks to turn awareness into lasting household practices through coordinated services and community participation.

The Poshan Tracker enables near real-time monitoring of Anganwadi services and child growth. Meanwhile, PMMVY has transferred more than ₹21,000 crore through Direct Benefit Transfer to over 4.65 crore mothers during its first 10 years.

In Nagaland, Nutrition, Early Stimulation and Education for Childhood Development recorded the highest number of activities at 5,679. The initiatives focused on the first 1,000 days and the first six years of life, promoting responsive caregiving, the revised Home Visit Schedule and age-appropriate learning through Navchetna and Aadharshila. Mokokchung, Peren and Zunheboto led in this category.

Community Ownership and Accountability accounted for 5,093 activities, mobilising Village Councils, SHGs, parents, caregivers, youth and community leaders to strengthen participation and responsibility towards Anganwadi Centres. Mokokchung led with 903 activities, followed by Zunheboto with 564 and Mon with 530.

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Fresh Hot Cooked Meals at Anganwadi Centres recorded 4,903 activities, highlighting the importance of fresh and nutritious meals through demonstrations, tasting sessions and weekly menu rotation. Mokokchung topped the category with 696 activities, followed by Mon with 684 and Peren with 540.

Dietary Diversity and Adequate Protein accounted for 3,799 activities, promoting locally available protein-rich foods, healthy recipes, Poshan Melas and produce from nutrition gardens. Tuensang led with 502 activities, followed by Wokha with 435 and Peren with 429.

Under PMMVY, cash transfers for Maternal Health, 2,106 activities were conducted to mark the scheme’s 10-year milestone through enrolment, registration and verification drives for eligible mothers. Mokokchung recorded 301 activities, followed by Mon with 273 and Zunheboto with 217.

The remaining 3,860 activities fell under other initiatives, including nutrition pledges, rallies, plantation drives, school programmes, adolescent outreach and other locally organised activities. Together, the six categories accounted for the State’s total of 25,440 activities.

To extend awareness beyond Anganwadi Centres, the SPMU supported a mass-media campaign featuring thematic messages in English and vernacular newspapers, sponsored programmes on All India Radio (AIR) and radio jingles highlighting dietary diversity, hot cooked meals, PMMVY and community ownership. The outreach aimed to reach households across the State, including those in remote and hilly areas, through accessible public communication.

Poshan Maah in Nagaland was implemented through a whole-of-government approach led by the Department of Social Welfare, in convergence with the departments of Health and Family Welfare, School Education, Agriculture, Horticulture, Nagaland State Rural Livelihoods Mission under Rural Development (NSRLM-RD), and AYUSH, along with local administrations and community institutions.

Health teams supported growth monitoring and Village Health, Sanitation and Nutrition Day (VHSND) sessions, while Agriculture and Horticulture promoted local produce and nutrition gardens. School Education reached children and adolescents, and NSRLM-RD mobilised SHG women. Village Councils and community leaders helped anchor the campaign at the grassroots level.

The SPMU, Rashtriya Poshan Abhiyaan, Department of Social Welfare, acknowledged the contributions of convergent departments, District Task Forces, Child Development Project Officers, supervisors, Anganwadi Workers and Helpers, ASHAs, ANMs, Village Councils, SHGs, media partners and citizens.

The department will continue to build on the momentum throughout the year by strengthening Anganwadi Centres as hubs of nutrition, care and learning. Through sustained community engagement, coordinated services and greater public ownership, the initiative seeks to advance the goal of a healthier and better-nourished Nagaland, where every child has the opportunity to grow and thrive.