CG Mukhyamantri Suposhan Abhiyan — Malnutrition

What is Mukhyamantri Suposhan Abhiyan?

Mukhyamantri Suposhan Abhiyan is Chhattisgarh's flagship programme to eliminate malnutrition among children under 5 years and pregnant/lactating women. Unlike standard ICDS which provides supplements, Suposhan Abhiyan uses a community participation and adoption model where individuals, NGOs, and officials adopt malnourished children and monitor their recovery.

Chhattisgarh, with some of India's highest tribal malnutrition rates, uses this intensive community model to track every malnourished child individually.

Key Features

Who Benefits?

Children:

• Children under 5 years who are severely underweight (SAM/MAM status)
• Children with faltering growth (not gaining weight consistently)

Women:

• Pregnant women with low weight / anaemia
• Lactating mothers with underweight infants

All children under 5 and all pregnant/lactating women in Chhattisgarh are monitored through anganwadi centres.

The Community Adoption Model

A unique feature of Suposhan Abhiyan:

• Elected representatives (Panchayat members, MLAs), government officers, and even ordinary citizens can "adopt" a malnourished child
• The adopter commits to 3 months of regular visits, providing nutritious food
• They monitor the child's weight gain
• If the child achieves normal nutritional status, the programme is considered successful

This drives accountability and community ownership.

Suposhan Mahotsav

Every 2nd Tuesday of the month is declared Suposhan Diwas:

• All anganwadi centres conduct a special event
• Children are weighed and results recorded
• Successful cases celebrated; difficult cases escalated
• Community members are reminded of the programme

NRC (Nutritional Rehabilitation Centre)

For Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) cases:

• Children below weight-for-height threshold are referred to NRC
• Free inpatient treatment at government hospital NRC (24/7)
• Therapeutic foods (RUTF — Ready to Use Therapeutic Food) provided
• Discharge criteria: child reaches 85% weight-for-height and has no complications

How to Access — For Families

1. Visit your Anganwadi Centre — every village in CG has one
2. Get your child weighed and measured
3. If identified as malnourished, you will be enrolled in Suposhan Abhiyan
4. Attend daily/weekly sessions, receive nutritious meals, follow up on health advice
5. If SAM: AWW/ASHA will refer child to the nearest NRC

No registration fee. No documents needed to access anganwadi services.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. My 2-year-old child looks very thin and eats little. What should I do?

Take the child to your nearest anganwadi centre immediately. The AWW will weigh and measure the child. If severely malnourished (SAM), you will be referred to the nearest NRC for free intensive treatment.

2. Can I adopt a malnourished child under Suposhan Abhiyan?

Yes. Any citizen, organization, or elected representative can volunteer to adopt a malnourished child for 3 months. Contact the District Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) or the Block CDPO to register as an adopter.

3. I am a pregnant woman who is very thin. Who should I contact?

Go to your anganwadi centre or ASHA worker. Pregnant women who are underweight are prioritized in Suposhan Abhiyan — you will receive Take-Home Ration, IFA tablets, regular monitoring, and counselling.

4. My village doesn't have an anganwadi. What do I do?

Every habitation in CG should have an anganwadi within reasonable distance. If there is none, contact the Block CDPO — it may be a recently set up mini-anganwadi or a shared one for neighboring villages. ASHA workers can also connect you.

5. How is this different from regular ICDS?

Regular ICDS provides supplementary nutrition (THR) and basic health services to all children. Suposhan Abhiyan adds intensive weekly monitoring, community adoption, hot cooked meals (not just dry ration), and NRC referral specifically for malnourished children.

Official Links