Chandigarh, September 23, 2026: As part of the 9th Rashtriya POSHAN Maah 2026, a series of community-based activities were organised on 23 September 2026 across different areas of Chandigarh with the objective of promoting nutrition, healthy eating practices, hygiene, child development and community participation.

A Community Dialogue on Anganwadi Centre Services and Accountability was organised in the Industrial Area to sensitise community members about the various services available through Anganwadi Centres. Special emphasis was laid on health, hygiene and appropriate nutrition for children in the 6 months to 3 years age group. Parents and community members were encouraged to provide children with healthy and nutritious food as part of their daily diet.

A demonstration on Poshtik Aahar (Nutritious Diet) was organised at Sector 24. The importance of consuming a balanced and nutritious diet for overall health and well-being was highlighted. The significance of the Poshan Matka was also explained, with emphasis on incorporating locally available and nutritious food items into the daily diet. Beneficiaries actively participated in the session and interacted with the frontline workers to understand healthy eating practices.

An Art and Craft Activity for children was organised at an Anganwadi Centre in Circle-52 to promote creativity, joyful learning and active participation. Various Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) activities were conducted through play-based and hands-on learning to support the cognitive, creative and social development of children. Ms. Deepika from Rocket Learning, an NGO, actively engaged the children in different art and craft activities, creating an enjoyable and interactive learning environment.

The activities were complemented by home visits, growth monitoring, mother meetings and counselling of parents of children with low birth weight, along with awareness on complementary feeding, kitchen gardening, proper hand-washing techniques, immunization and Aadhaar enrolment. Special emphasis was also placed on anaemia prevention, particularly among adolescent girls, with participants being sensitised about the causes and symptoms of anaemia, preventive measures and the importance of consuming a nutritious and iron-rich diet.

The activities witnessed active participation from children, mothers, beneficiaries and community members and reinforced key messages related to nutrition, hygiene, healthy eating, anaemia prevention, immunization, child development and overall well-being.