Blurb: ‘This milestone reflects the state’s strong commitment to strengthening nutrition outcomes at the grassroots level’
Mumbai
Maharashtra has emerged as the top-performing state in the national ‘Suposhit Gram Panchayat Abhiyaan’, with 192 Gram Panchayats securing positions among the top 1,000 performing Panchayats across the country.
Announcing the achievement on Wednesday, Maharashtra Minister of Women and Child Welfare Aditi Tatkare described it as a milestone reflecting the state’s strong commitment to improving nutrition outcomes at the grassroots level.
The Suposhit Gram Panchayat Abhiyaan is a nationwide initiative aimed at strengthening nutritional indicators by converging the efforts of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), health departments, local self-governments and community stakeholders. The campaign focuses on reducing malnutrition, improving maternal and child health, strengthening Anganwadi services and ensuring last-mile delivery of nutrition interventions.
According to Minister Tatkare, Maharashtra’s success is the result of coordinated action, robust monitoring mechanisms and active community participation. She credited the dedicated work of ICDS officers, supervisors, Anganwadi workers and frontline functionaries across districts for achieving the distinction. Focused interventions under POSHAN Abhiyaan, strengthened growth monitoring, behavioural change communication and targeted outreach to vulnerable beneficiaries have played a pivotal role in driving measurable progress.
The minister congratulated officers and field staff for their sustained efforts and reiterated the government’s resolve to build a ‘Suposhit Maharashtra’ through continued policy support, innovation and accountability. She noted that the achievement not only establishes a national benchmark but also serves as motivation to intensify nutrition-focused initiatives across the state.
Officials from the department highlighted that the Abhiyaan acts as a catalyst for sustainable change by encouraging innovative and community-driven approaches to tackle malnutrition. Key interventions include the use of millets in Hot Cooked Meals (HCM) and Take Home Ration (THR), development of Poshan Vatikas or nutri-gardens in Anganwadi Centres, and promoting diet diversity through locally available food.
Best practices emerging from Anganwadi Centres are regularly documented and disseminated for wider adoption, ensuring that successful models are replicated across districts. With the highest representation in the national rankings, Maharashtra has reinforced its leadership in advancing grassroots nutrition reforms and community-led development.
What made Maharashtra tops
* 192 Panchayats in top 1000
* Highest state representation
* Focus on reducing malnutrition
* Community-driven nutrition initiatives
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