On 15 September 2026, the quiet neighborhood of Chhaimath in Ward No. 16 of Barrackpore Municipality, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, witnessed a vibrant community milestone. SPAN’s Phuljhuri Creche Centre hosted a dedicated observation of Poshan Maah (National Nutrition Month), bringing essential health education directly to the families of informal women workers.
Phuljhuri Creche Centre is part of a broader network run by SPAN across West Bengal to support working mothers. Recognizing the daily challenges faced by women in the informal economy and tea plantations, SPAN operates five specialized creches: the Phuljhuri facility in Barrackpore, one in New Town, and three located within the tea gardens of Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling. These centers serve as safe havens, providing crucial early childhood care, safety, and nutritional security.
Community Engagement and Practical Learning
The day’s event focused on actionable, budget-friendly ways to improve everyday diets. Rather than relying solely on lectures, the organizers led live culinary demonstrations:
- Low-Cost, Nutritious Meals: Staff prepared and served healthy, delicious, and low-cost recipes directly to parents, walking them through simple preparation methods that preserve nutrients without stretching family budgets.
- Awareness on Processed Foods: Sessions actively sensitized parents to the hidden dangers of packaged and processed outside food, emphasizing the long-term impacts on a young child’s immunity and physical development.
- Tricolour Food Display: An eye-catching exhibition arranged in the colors of the Indian national flag showcased accessible, locally available ingredients, clearly explaining the specific health benefits of each food item.
Aligning with POSHAN Abhiyaan
Observed every September under the Government of India’s POSHAN Abhiyaan (National Nutrition Mission), Poshan Maah aims to improve nutritional outcomes for children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers. The initiative drives awareness around vital health pillars, including anaemia prevention, proper breastfeeding practices, balanced complementary feeding, and continuous growth monitoring.
Local parents expressed deep appreciation for the gathering, noting that this was the very first initiative of its kind in their area to observe Poshan Maah—setting a inspiring precedent for community-led health education in Barrackpore.
