Rajmata Jijau Mother-Child Health & Nutrition Mission

Maharashtra was the first state in the country to take a decision to tackle malnutrition in ‘Mission – mode’ and with this purpose, Rajmata Jijau Mother – Child Health & Nutrition Mission was established. The first phase of the Health and Nutrition Mission was set up in 2005, and the second phase in November 2011. The aim of the Mission is to reduce child malnutrition in Maharashtra by focusing on the first 1000 days from conception, i.e. the period of -9 to 24 months.

The Rajmata Jijau Mission works as an autonomous technical and advisory body fully funded by UNICEF. It aims at improving convergence and coordination between Public Health Department, Govt. of Maharastra and ICDS Commissionerate.

The role of the Mission is well-defined to avoid any confusion and duplication with the WCD Departments’ role. In Maharashtra, a deliberate decision was taken not to fund the Mission through the state budget, and not to implement any schemes directly through the Mission. This enables it to function with freedom and autonomy. The Role of the Mission includes the following:

• Advocacy regarding the importance of the first 1000 days.
• Acting as a ‘think tank’ and to give policy advice to the government regarding evidence-based interventions.
• Achieving convergence between difference departments with the common objective of reducing malnutrition.

Pursuant to this role, the Mission has prepared a multi-sectoral action plan, outlining how different departments can contribute towards reducing malnutrition directly or indirectly.

To know more about the Rajmata Jijau Nutrition Mission, please visit their website at http://www.mahnm.in/