दक्षिणपूर्वरेलवे

SOUTH EASTERN RAILWAY

प्रेसविज्ञप्ति

PRESS RELEASE

Observance of Poshan Pakhwada 2026 and TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan – 100 Days Campaign at Garden Reach, South Eastern Railway

Kolkata, 20^th April, 2026

The Ministry of Women and Child Development observes Poshan Pakhwada every year in convergence with various stakeholders to improve nutritional outcomes in a holistic manner. The 8th edition of Poshan Pakhwada is being observed across the country from 09th April to 23rd April 2026. Further, the o­ngoing activities are aligned with the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan – 100 Days Campaign, launched o­n 24th March 2026 by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, which aims at intensifying efforts towards tuberculosis elimination. 

In line with the above initiatives, an Awareness Walkathon was successfully conducted o­n 19.04.2026 at Garden Reach, SERunder the aegis of the Medical Department.

The Walkathon was flagged off by Shri Anil Kumar Jain, General Manager, South Eastern Railway, along with Smt. Anjana Malhotra, Principal Chief Medical Director and other Principal Heads of Departments. The programme witnessed enthusiastic participation from officers, staff members, Bharat Scouts & Guides (BSG), St. John Ambulance Brigade (SJAB), and SERSA representatives, demonstrating collective commitment towards promoting nutrition and health awareness.

During the Walkathon, two Nukkad Natak (street plays) were performed at different locations, focusing o­n key messages related to nutrition (Poshan) and Tuberculosis (TB) awareness, which effectively engaged the public and reinforced awareness among the community.

In addition to the Walkathon, several activities were conducted to enhance community participation and outreach, including:

• Sit and Draw Competitions for children in the age groups of 1.5–3 years and 3–6 years
• Fun games for children below 10 years of age
• Awareness sessions for mothers, focusing o­n child nutrition, early stimulation, and healthy practices

POSHAN Abhiyaan (National Nutrition Mission), launched o­n 08th March 2018, is the flagship programme of the Government of India aimed at improving nutritional outcomes for children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers through a comprehensive and technology-driven approach.

The theme for Poshan Pakhwada 2026 is “Maximizing Brain Development in the First Six Years of Life”, with a focus o­n generating awareness among families and communities regarding practices that support healthy growth, early childhood care, and optimal brain development during infancy. The campaign emphasizes key priority areas such as Mother & Child Nutrition, Early Stimulation (0–3 years), Play-based Learning (3–6 years), minimizing screen time, and strengthening community support systems.

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