Anemia Mukt Bharat (AMB)

Overview

• 67.1% of children are anemic
• 59.1% of adolescent girls are anemic
• 3 in 4 Indian women have low dietary iron intake

The 6x6x6 Framework

1. Prophylactic Iron and Folic Acid (IFA) Supplementation - doses tailored by age group:
   • 6-59 months: 1 ml IFA syrup (20 mg elemental iron + 100 mcg folic acid), twice weekly
   • 5-9 years: 45 mg iron + 400 mcg folic acid tablet, weekly (50 weeks/year)
   • 10-19 years: 100 mg iron + 500 mcg folic acid tablet, weekly (WIFS program)
   • Pregnant women: 100 mg iron + 500 mcg folic acid, daily for 180 days (from 14-16 weeks)
   • Lactating women: daily supplementation for 180 days post-delivery
2. Deworming - biannual Albendazole 400 mg on National Deworming Days (February & August)
3. Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) - promotion of iron-rich diets, addressing myths
4. Addressing non-nutritional causes - malaria, hemoglobinopathies (sickle cell, thalassemia)
5. Mandatory IFA fortification of rice - in public distribution/midday meal schemes
6. Delay of cord clamping - at birth (increases iron stores in newborns)

• Delivered through existing platforms: Anganwadi Centers (AWCs), schools, ASHAs, ANMs, Primary Health Centers, and digital health tools

Implementation Architecture

• National Iron Plus Initiative (NIPI) - launched 2013, comprehensive IFA strategy across the life cycle
• Weekly Iron Folic Acid Supplementation (WIFS) - focused on adolescents 10-19 years

• POSHAN Abhiyaan (National Nutrition Mission)
• School Health Program (Ayushman Bharat)
• Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (maternity benefit scheme)

Progress & Key Data (2024-25)

• 15.4 crore children and adolescents received IFA supplements in Q2 FY 2024-25
• IFA supplementation coverage increased consistently from FY 2018-19 to 2022-23 across all target groups
• Significant improvements noted especially among children, lactating mothers, and pregnant women
• AMB Scorecard - quarterly monitoring tool tracking real-time anemia screening and IFA supply data at national and state levels

Monitoring & Accountability

• AMB Index - a composite index tracking IFA supplementation coverage across all 5 target groups, published quarterly
• Digital platforms enable real-time tracking of supply chains and beneficiary coverage
• State rankings published to encourage competitive performance improvement (as per 2025 PMC study)

Challenges

• Inconsistent implementation due to school absences and holidays affecting school-based delivery
• Logistical barriers in remote areas
• Low adherence to daily supplementation in pregnant women
• Non-nutritional causes of anemia (hemoglobinopathies, malaria, infections) require parallel management beyond IFA alone

Anemia Mukt Bharat - 2025-26 Updates

MAJOR UPDATE: Renamed & Upgraded to "Anemia Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan"

1. 6x6x6 → Now 7x7x7 Framework

2. T3 → T4 Strategy

3. New Unified Digital Portal

• Digital tracking of anemia screening and treatment
• Supply chain monitoring
• State-level analysis and planning
• Real-time performance dashboards

4. AMB Index Progress (2020-21 to 2025-26)

• Madhya Pradesh: 92.1% (rank 1, up from 64.1%)
• Uttarakhand: 88.5% (up from 28.5%)
• Assam: Among top 5 states nationally

5. Key Coverage Milestone (FY 2024-25)

• 15.4 crore children and adolescents received IFA supplements in Q2 FY 2024-25 alone

Summary of What Changed