Anemia Mukt Bharat integrates tech, schools, and nutrition schemes to counter alarming anemia rates among children and women.
New Delhi, 22 April : In a decisive move against one of India’s most persistent public health challenges, the Government’s Anemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) campaign has delivered Iron and Folic Acid (IFA) supplements to a staggering 15.4 crore children and adolescents in just one quarter of FY 2024–25. The drive underscores India’s aggressive push to tackle anemia, a condition that continues to affect a majority of its young population.
The Scale of the Challenge
According to the latest National Family Health Survey-5 (2019–21):
67.1% of children (6–59 months) are anemic
59.1% of adolescent girls (15–19 years) suffer from anemia
Three out of four Indian women have diets low in iron
“Anemia is more than a nutritional issue — it’s a developmental crisis. It affects cognition, school performance, maternal health, and workforce productivity,” said a senior official from the Ministry of Health.
AMB’s 6x6x6 Strategy
Launched in 2018, AMB adopts a 6x6x6 model:
6 interventions (IFA supplementation, deworming, testing, behavior change, tracking, provision of fortified foods)
6 target groups (children, adolescents, pregnant women, lactating mothers, women of reproductive age, and men)
6 institutional mechanisms for implementation and monitoring
Digital Backbone & Multi-sectoral Push
What marks a major shift in AMB’s recent phase is the use of real-time digital dashboards for:
Monitoring anemia screening coverage
Tracking supplement distribution and stock availability
The initiative is now closely linked with flagship programs like:
POSHAN Abhiyaan (Nutrition Mission)
School Health & Wellness Program under Ayushman Bharat
Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)
A Holistic Health Vision
By embedding anemia control into existing education and nutrition platforms, the government aims to build a life-course approach to health — starting from early childhood through adolescence and reproductive years.
The Road Ahead
Officials emphasize that combating anemia is vital to meet India’s targets under the National Nutrition Mission and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“This is not just about iron tablets — it’s about investing in India’s human capital,” said a health ministry spokesperson.
As the campaign deepens its reach, especially in rural and tribal areas, India looks to reverse decades of nutritional neglect with data-driven, community-focused interventions.
With Input DD/TV/Agency
