SEP 21:As part of Poshan Maah 2025 celebrations, Mizoram is taking a progressive step toward gender-inclusive nutrition practices by actively promoting the theme of Men-streaming across its Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) projects. This initiative is being prominently implemented in the Bilkhawthlir and Thingsulthliah ICDS Projects, where men are being involved directly in Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) activities.
Traditionally, child feeding and caregiving responsibilities have been seen as women’s roles. However, these ICDS projects in Mizoram are working to challenge these stereotypes by encouraging shared parenting and emphasizing the important role fathers and male caregivers can play in improving child nutrition and care.
Through targeted community engagement sessions, counseling, and awareness campaigns, men are being sensitized and trained on various aspects of infant and young child feeding, including breastfeeding support, complementary feeding practices, and hygiene. This inclusive approach helps families make better-informed decisions about nutrition and health, and leads to more consistent support systems for mothers and children.
The goal of this Men-streaming approach is not just to involve men superficially, but to embed their active participation in daily nutrition-related practices. As men become more engaged in caregiving, it creates a more balanced and supportive family environment, ultimately leading to better nutritional outcomes for children.
Officials from the Women and Child Development Department note that this strategy aligns with the broader objective of Poshan Abhiyaan—to make nutrition a Jan Andolan (people’s movement) by engaging all members of society, including men, in the effort to combat malnutrition and promote early childhood development.
By making men allies in the care process, Mizoram’s ICDS projects are paving the way for a more inclusive, equitable, and effective nutrition strategy—one that recognizes the shared responsibility of raising healthy children.
