Kurukshetra Magazine August 2024 - 3 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

 Page 1


Bridging the Gap: 
e-learning as a Catalyst for  
Health and Nutrition Awareness
* Dr Akanksha Jain
n recent years, there is an increasing 
awareness regarding health and 
nutrition, driven by the urgent need 
to improve public health outcomes. 
In India, particularly in rural areas, 
disseminating this crucial information has posed 
I
significant challenges. However, the emergence of 
e-learning technologies presents a promising solution. 
E-learning has the potential to transcend geographical 
barriers and provide accessible education, making it a 
powerful catalyst for enhancing health and nutrition 
awareness in rural communities. With traditional 
* The author is an Assistant Professor (Food and Nutrition), Bhagini Nivedita College, University of Delhi.
   Email: akankshajain@bn.du.ac.in
E-learning has emerged as a pivotal tool in enhancing health and nutrition awareness 
in rural India, bridging significant gaps in education and accessibility. Governmental 
schemes such as Digital India, Poshan Abhiyaan, and Ayushman Bharat have catalyzed 
this transformation, yet challenges like digital divide and cultural barriers persist. 
Proposed strategies to overcome the challenges to an extent include infrastructure 
development, community engagement, capacity building, and cultural sensitivity, 
aiming to optimize e-learning effectiveness. By leveraging partnerships, monitoring 
mechanisms, and diversified content, these strategies aim to overcome barriers, 
ensuring sustainable health and nutrition education in remote communities, thereby 
fostering healthier and more empowered rural populations.
Page 2


Bridging the Gap: 
e-learning as a Catalyst for  
Health and Nutrition Awareness
* Dr Akanksha Jain
n recent years, there is an increasing 
awareness regarding health and 
nutrition, driven by the urgent need 
to improve public health outcomes. 
In India, particularly in rural areas, 
disseminating this crucial information has posed 
I
significant challenges. However, the emergence of 
e-learning technologies presents a promising solution. 
E-learning has the potential to transcend geographical 
barriers and provide accessible education, making it a 
powerful catalyst for enhancing health and nutrition 
awareness in rural communities. With traditional 
* The author is an Assistant Professor (Food and Nutrition), Bhagini Nivedita College, University of Delhi.
   Email: akankshajain@bn.du.ac.in
E-learning has emerged as a pivotal tool in enhancing health and nutrition awareness 
in rural India, bridging significant gaps in education and accessibility. Governmental 
schemes such as Digital India, Poshan Abhiyaan, and Ayushman Bharat have catalyzed 
this transformation, yet challenges like digital divide and cultural barriers persist. 
Proposed strategies to overcome the challenges to an extent include infrastructure 
development, community engagement, capacity building, and cultural sensitivity, 
aiming to optimize e-learning effectiveness. By leveraging partnerships, monitoring 
mechanisms, and diversified content, these strategies aim to overcome barriers, 
ensuring sustainable health and nutrition education in remote communities, thereby 
fostering healthier and more empowered rural populations.
37 Kurukshetra       August  2024
methods facing limitations in reaching diverse 
populations, e-learning offers scalable, interactive, 
and customisable platforms like online courses, mobile 
apps, and webinars to effectively educate and empower 
rural residents.
The Indian government has launched several 
schemes and programs to promote e-learning and 
improve health and nutrition awareness in rural areas. 
These initiatives aim to harness technology to overcome 
barriers and ensure equitable access to information and 
services.
1. Digital India Initiative: Launched in 2015, the 
Digital India initiative aims to transform India into a 
digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. 
It focuses on providing high-speed internet access, 
promoting digital literacy, and delivering government 
services electronically. Under this campaign, various 
initiatives have been rolled out to enhance e-learning 
platforms for health and nutrition awareness. The 
establishment of Common Service Centres (CSCs) in 
rural areas provides a digital touchpoint for villagers to 
access e-learning modules and health information.
o e-Sanjeevani: A telemedicine service that 
connects patients in 
rural areas with doctors 
and specialists in urban 
centres through video 
consultations. This 
service improves access 
to healthcare and 
provides timely medical advice. It aims to bridge the 
gap between rural patients and healthcare providers 
through digital platforms.
o DigiLocker: An online platform that enables 
individuals to securely store and share important 
documents, including health records and educational 
certificates. This facilitates easy access to personal 
health information and enhances continuity of care.
o Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta 
Abhiyaan (PMGDISHA): It was launched in 2017 to help 
people in rural areas become digitally literate. Aimed at 
making at least one person in every household digitally 
literate, this program includes modules on health and 
nutrition awareness.
o National Digital Literacy 
Mission (NDLM): Focuses on providing 
digital literacy to citizens, including health-related 
e-learning content.
o e-Health: It was introduced to provide timely 
and effective healthcare services such as online 
registrations, payments, reports, and claims.
o E-education: It was started to provide online 
education in remote and urban areas using technologies 
such as smartphones, apps, and internet services.
o eRaktKosh: It is a centralised blood bank 
management system inaugurated on April 7, 2016, 
for automation of blood banks and has a web-based 
application with Aadhaar linkage facility.
o Services e-Health Assistance and 
Teleconsultation (SeHAT) is the tri-services 
teleconsultation service of the Ministry of Defense 
designed for all entitled personnel and their families. As 
part of the Government’s commitment to Digital India 
and e-governance, SeHAT was launched on May 27, 
2021.
2. National Digital Health Mission (NDHM) : 
Launched in 2020, NDHM aims to create a digital health 
ecosystem that supports universal health coverage. 
Key components of the mission include the creation 
of unique health IDs for individuals, electronic health 
records, and a health information exchange platform. 
These initiatives are particularly beneficial for rural 
populations, as they streamline access to healthcare 
services and improve health outcomes.
3. Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0: Ministry 
of Women and Child Development has implemented 
the Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 during the 
Page 3


Bridging the Gap: 
e-learning as a Catalyst for  
Health and Nutrition Awareness
* Dr Akanksha Jain
n recent years, there is an increasing 
awareness regarding health and 
nutrition, driven by the urgent need 
to improve public health outcomes. 
In India, particularly in rural areas, 
disseminating this crucial information has posed 
I
significant challenges. However, the emergence of 
e-learning technologies presents a promising solution. 
E-learning has the potential to transcend geographical 
barriers and provide accessible education, making it a 
powerful catalyst for enhancing health and nutrition 
awareness in rural communities. With traditional 
* The author is an Assistant Professor (Food and Nutrition), Bhagini Nivedita College, University of Delhi.
   Email: akankshajain@bn.du.ac.in
E-learning has emerged as a pivotal tool in enhancing health and nutrition awareness 
in rural India, bridging significant gaps in education and accessibility. Governmental 
schemes such as Digital India, Poshan Abhiyaan, and Ayushman Bharat have catalyzed 
this transformation, yet challenges like digital divide and cultural barriers persist. 
Proposed strategies to overcome the challenges to an extent include infrastructure 
development, community engagement, capacity building, and cultural sensitivity, 
aiming to optimize e-learning effectiveness. By leveraging partnerships, monitoring 
mechanisms, and diversified content, these strategies aim to overcome barriers, 
ensuring sustainable health and nutrition education in remote communities, thereby 
fostering healthier and more empowered rural populations.
37 Kurukshetra       August  2024
methods facing limitations in reaching diverse 
populations, e-learning offers scalable, interactive, 
and customisable platforms like online courses, mobile 
apps, and webinars to effectively educate and empower 
rural residents.
The Indian government has launched several 
schemes and programs to promote e-learning and 
improve health and nutrition awareness in rural areas. 
These initiatives aim to harness technology to overcome 
barriers and ensure equitable access to information and 
services.
1. Digital India Initiative: Launched in 2015, the 
Digital India initiative aims to transform India into a 
digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. 
It focuses on providing high-speed internet access, 
promoting digital literacy, and delivering government 
services electronically. Under this campaign, various 
initiatives have been rolled out to enhance e-learning 
platforms for health and nutrition awareness. The 
establishment of Common Service Centres (CSCs) in 
rural areas provides a digital touchpoint for villagers to 
access e-learning modules and health information.
o e-Sanjeevani: A telemedicine service that 
connects patients in 
rural areas with doctors 
and specialists in urban 
centres through video 
consultations. This 
service improves access 
to healthcare and 
provides timely medical advice. It aims to bridge the 
gap between rural patients and healthcare providers 
through digital platforms.
o DigiLocker: An online platform that enables 
individuals to securely store and share important 
documents, including health records and educational 
certificates. This facilitates easy access to personal 
health information and enhances continuity of care.
o Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta 
Abhiyaan (PMGDISHA): It was launched in 2017 to help 
people in rural areas become digitally literate. Aimed at 
making at least one person in every household digitally 
literate, this program includes modules on health and 
nutrition awareness.
o National Digital Literacy 
Mission (NDLM): Focuses on providing 
digital literacy to citizens, including health-related 
e-learning content.
o e-Health: It was introduced to provide timely 
and effective healthcare services such as online 
registrations, payments, reports, and claims.
o E-education: It was started to provide online 
education in remote and urban areas using technologies 
such as smartphones, apps, and internet services.
o eRaktKosh: It is a centralised blood bank 
management system inaugurated on April 7, 2016, 
for automation of blood banks and has a web-based 
application with Aadhaar linkage facility.
o Services e-Health Assistance and 
Teleconsultation (SeHAT) is the tri-services 
teleconsultation service of the Ministry of Defense 
designed for all entitled personnel and their families. As 
part of the Government’s commitment to Digital India 
and e-governance, SeHAT was launched on May 27, 
2021.
2. National Digital Health Mission (NDHM) : 
Launched in 2020, NDHM aims to create a digital health 
ecosystem that supports universal health coverage. 
Key components of the mission include the creation 
of unique health IDs for individuals, electronic health 
records, and a health information exchange platform. 
These initiatives are particularly beneficial for rural 
populations, as they streamline access to healthcare 
services and improve health outcomes.
3. Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0: Ministry 
of Women and Child Development has implemented 
the Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 during the 
38 Kurukshetra       August  2024
15
th 
Finance Commission period 2021-22 to 2025-26. 
Revised guidelines have been released on June 24, 2024 
with a focus to strengthen ICT component and better 
implementation and monitoring of Mission Poshan 
2.0 with the directions to follow the provisions with 
immediate effect including provision of smart phone 
and data recharge support to Lady Supervisors and 
Block Coordinators, 2% buffer for Smart phones, etc.
With a view to address various gaps and 
shortcomings in the on-going nutrition programme and 
to improve implementation as well as to accelerate 
improvement in nutrition and child development 
outcomes, the existing scheme components have been 
re-organised under Poshan 2.0 into the primary verticals 
given below:
o Nutrition Support for POSHAN through 
Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP) for children 
of the age group of 6 months to 6 years, pregnant 
women and lactating mothers; and for Adolescent 
Girls in the age group of 14 to 18 years in Aspirational 
Districts and North Eastern Region (NER)
o Early Childhood Care and Education (3-6 years) 
and early stimulation for (0-3 years)
o Anganwadi Infrastructure including modern, 
upgraded Saksham Anganwadi 
o Poshan Abhiyaan: Launched in 2018, Poshan 
Abhiyaan aims to reduce stunting, undernutrition, 
and low birth weight in children, as well as anaemia 
in children, adolescents, and women. The mission 
emphasises the use of technology and e-learning to 
spread nutritional awareness.
The mission leverages mobile applications, 
e-learning platforms, and social media to disseminate 
information about nutrition and healthy practices.
ICT-RTM (Information and Communication 
Technology-Real Time Monitoring) uses mobile 
applications to monitor and evaluate the nutrition 
status of beneficiaries. It also provides educational 
content on nutrition and health practices.
Poshan Maah (Nutrition Month) and Poshan 
Pakhwada utilises e-learning tools to conduct 
workshops, webinars, and digital campaigns focused on 
nutrition awareness about the importance of nutrition 
and promote healthy eating habits through Jan Andolan 
and Jan Bhagidari.
‘Poshan Tracker’, a robust ICT enabled platform to 
improve governance with regard to real time monitoring 
of provisioning of supplementary nutrition for prompt 
supervision and management of services.
4. Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission: The 
Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) aims to 
develop the backbone necessary to support the 
integrated digital health infrastructure of the country. 
Page 4


Bridging the Gap: 
e-learning as a Catalyst for  
Health and Nutrition Awareness
* Dr Akanksha Jain
n recent years, there is an increasing 
awareness regarding health and 
nutrition, driven by the urgent need 
to improve public health outcomes. 
In India, particularly in rural areas, 
disseminating this crucial information has posed 
I
significant challenges. However, the emergence of 
e-learning technologies presents a promising solution. 
E-learning has the potential to transcend geographical 
barriers and provide accessible education, making it a 
powerful catalyst for enhancing health and nutrition 
awareness in rural communities. With traditional 
* The author is an Assistant Professor (Food and Nutrition), Bhagini Nivedita College, University of Delhi.
   Email: akankshajain@bn.du.ac.in
E-learning has emerged as a pivotal tool in enhancing health and nutrition awareness 
in rural India, bridging significant gaps in education and accessibility. Governmental 
schemes such as Digital India, Poshan Abhiyaan, and Ayushman Bharat have catalyzed 
this transformation, yet challenges like digital divide and cultural barriers persist. 
Proposed strategies to overcome the challenges to an extent include infrastructure 
development, community engagement, capacity building, and cultural sensitivity, 
aiming to optimize e-learning effectiveness. By leveraging partnerships, monitoring 
mechanisms, and diversified content, these strategies aim to overcome barriers, 
ensuring sustainable health and nutrition education in remote communities, thereby 
fostering healthier and more empowered rural populations.
37 Kurukshetra       August  2024
methods facing limitations in reaching diverse 
populations, e-learning offers scalable, interactive, 
and customisable platforms like online courses, mobile 
apps, and webinars to effectively educate and empower 
rural residents.
The Indian government has launched several 
schemes and programs to promote e-learning and 
improve health and nutrition awareness in rural areas. 
These initiatives aim to harness technology to overcome 
barriers and ensure equitable access to information and 
services.
1. Digital India Initiative: Launched in 2015, the 
Digital India initiative aims to transform India into a 
digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. 
It focuses on providing high-speed internet access, 
promoting digital literacy, and delivering government 
services electronically. Under this campaign, various 
initiatives have been rolled out to enhance e-learning 
platforms for health and nutrition awareness. The 
establishment of Common Service Centres (CSCs) in 
rural areas provides a digital touchpoint for villagers to 
access e-learning modules and health information.
o e-Sanjeevani: A telemedicine service that 
connects patients in 
rural areas with doctors 
and specialists in urban 
centres through video 
consultations. This 
service improves access 
to healthcare and 
provides timely medical advice. It aims to bridge the 
gap between rural patients and healthcare providers 
through digital platforms.
o DigiLocker: An online platform that enables 
individuals to securely store and share important 
documents, including health records and educational 
certificates. This facilitates easy access to personal 
health information and enhances continuity of care.
o Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta 
Abhiyaan (PMGDISHA): It was launched in 2017 to help 
people in rural areas become digitally literate. Aimed at 
making at least one person in every household digitally 
literate, this program includes modules on health and 
nutrition awareness.
o National Digital Literacy 
Mission (NDLM): Focuses on providing 
digital literacy to citizens, including health-related 
e-learning content.
o e-Health: It was introduced to provide timely 
and effective healthcare services such as online 
registrations, payments, reports, and claims.
o E-education: It was started to provide online 
education in remote and urban areas using technologies 
such as smartphones, apps, and internet services.
o eRaktKosh: It is a centralised blood bank 
management system inaugurated on April 7, 2016, 
for automation of blood banks and has a web-based 
application with Aadhaar linkage facility.
o Services e-Health Assistance and 
Teleconsultation (SeHAT) is the tri-services 
teleconsultation service of the Ministry of Defense 
designed for all entitled personnel and their families. As 
part of the Government’s commitment to Digital India 
and e-governance, SeHAT was launched on May 27, 
2021.
2. National Digital Health Mission (NDHM) : 
Launched in 2020, NDHM aims to create a digital health 
ecosystem that supports universal health coverage. 
Key components of the mission include the creation 
of unique health IDs for individuals, electronic health 
records, and a health information exchange platform. 
These initiatives are particularly beneficial for rural 
populations, as they streamline access to healthcare 
services and improve health outcomes.
3. Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0: Ministry 
of Women and Child Development has implemented 
the Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 during the 
38 Kurukshetra       August  2024
15
th 
Finance Commission period 2021-22 to 2025-26. 
Revised guidelines have been released on June 24, 2024 
with a focus to strengthen ICT component and better 
implementation and monitoring of Mission Poshan 
2.0 with the directions to follow the provisions with 
immediate effect including provision of smart phone 
and data recharge support to Lady Supervisors and 
Block Coordinators, 2% buffer for Smart phones, etc.
With a view to address various gaps and 
shortcomings in the on-going nutrition programme and 
to improve implementation as well as to accelerate 
improvement in nutrition and child development 
outcomes, the existing scheme components have been 
re-organised under Poshan 2.0 into the primary verticals 
given below:
o Nutrition Support for POSHAN through 
Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP) for children 
of the age group of 6 months to 6 years, pregnant 
women and lactating mothers; and for Adolescent 
Girls in the age group of 14 to 18 years in Aspirational 
Districts and North Eastern Region (NER)
o Early Childhood Care and Education (3-6 years) 
and early stimulation for (0-3 years)
o Anganwadi Infrastructure including modern, 
upgraded Saksham Anganwadi 
o Poshan Abhiyaan: Launched in 2018, Poshan 
Abhiyaan aims to reduce stunting, undernutrition, 
and low birth weight in children, as well as anaemia 
in children, adolescents, and women. The mission 
emphasises the use of technology and e-learning to 
spread nutritional awareness.
The mission leverages mobile applications, 
e-learning platforms, and social media to disseminate 
information about nutrition and healthy practices.
ICT-RTM (Information and Communication 
Technology-Real Time Monitoring) uses mobile 
applications to monitor and evaluate the nutrition 
status of beneficiaries. It also provides educational 
content on nutrition and health practices.
Poshan Maah (Nutrition Month) and Poshan 
Pakhwada utilises e-learning tools to conduct 
workshops, webinars, and digital campaigns focused on 
nutrition awareness about the importance of nutrition 
and promote healthy eating habits through Jan Andolan 
and Jan Bhagidari.
‘Poshan Tracker’, a robust ICT enabled platform to 
improve governance with regard to real time monitoring 
of provisioning of supplementary nutrition for prompt 
supervision and management of services.
4. Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission: The 
Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) aims to 
develop the backbone necessary to support the 
integrated digital health infrastructure of the country. 
39 Kurukshetra       August  2024
It will bridge the existing gap amongst different 
stakeholders of healthcare ecosystem through digital 
highways. ABDM has the following components:
o Healthcare Professionals Registry (HPR): It is a 
comprehensive repository of all healthcare professionals 
involved in delivery of healthcare services across both 
modern and traditional systems of medicine. Enrolling in 
the Healthcare Professionals Registry will enable them 
to get connected to India’s digital health ecosystem.
o ABHA Mobile App (PHR): A PHR is an electronic 
record of health-related information on an individual 
that conforms to nationally recognised interoperability 
standards and that can be drawn from multiple sources 
while being managed, shared, and controlled by the 
individual. 
o Health Facility Registry (HFR): It is a 
comprehensive repository of health facilities of the 
nation across different systems of medicine. It includes 
both public and private health facilities including 
hospitals, clinics, diagnostic laboratories and imaging 
centres, pharmacies, etc. Enrolling in the Health Facility 
Registry will enable them to get connected to India’s 
digital health ecosystem.
o Unified Health Interface (UHI): The UHI 
Network is designed as an open protocol connecting 
End User Applications (EUAs) and Health Service 
Provider (HSP) applications. It will facilitate various 
digital health services, such as appointment booking, 
teleconsultation, and service discovery, between 
patients and HSPs.
o ABHA Number: Standardising the identification 
process across healthcare providers is crucial to ensure 
medical records are correctly issued and accessed with 
appropriate consent. Issuing a Unique Health ID (UHID) 
requires collecting basic details such as demographic, 
location, family/relationship, and contact information, 
with an emphasis on easy contact information updates. 
The Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) Number 
will uniquely identify individuals, authenticate them, 
and link their health records across various systems and 
stakeholders with informed consent.
o Aarogya Setu has evolved into a National Health 
App under ABDM. Users can register for a Digital Health 
ID, interact with healthcare providers, and seamlessly 
receive digital lab reports, prescriptions, and diagnoses 
from verified professionals.
o The e-Hospital application is a cloud-based 
Hospital Management Information System that 
connects patients, hospitals, and doctors on a single 
digital platform. It is available to Central and State 
Government, Autonomous, and Cooperative hospitals 
via the SaaS (Software as a Service) model.
The mission includes the development of e-learning 
modules for health professionals and citizens, 
enhancing their knowledge about health practices, 
disease prevention, and nutrition.
5. Swasth Bharat Prerak Programme: The Swasth 
Bharat Prerak (SBP) programme, launched in January 
2018, is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Women & 
Child Development and the Tata Trusts. It supplements 
the path-breaking POSHAN (Prime Minister’s 
Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nourishment) 
Abhiyaan or the National Nutrition Mission (NNM) by 
providing managerial and administrative support to 
the district and state administration for the effective 
implementation of the mission. The programme aims to 
improve health and nutrition outcomes by employing 
technology-driven solutions. It uses e-learning platforms 
to train community health workers and disseminate 
health and nutrition information to rural populations.
Swasth Bharat Yatra: A nationwide campaign that 
includes digital workshops, webinars, and e-learning 
modules on health and nutrition awareness.
6. e-School for Farmers: This program, 
implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers 
Welfare, provides online courses and training modules 
on various aspects of agriculture, including health and 
nutrition. The platform offers video tutorials, interactive 
sessions, and expert advice, enabling farmers to 
enhance their knowledge and improve their livelihoods.
7. National Health Mission (NHM): Launched 
in 2013, aims to provide accessible, affordable, and 
quality healthcare to rural populations. It includes a 
significant focus on maternal and child health, nutrition, 
and disease prevention.
The NHM incorporates e-learning strategies to 
educate healthcare providers and the community about 
health practices and nutrition.
o ASHA Training Modules: E-learning modules 
designed for Accredited Social Health Activists 
(ASHAs) to enhance their knowledge about health 
and nutrition.
Page 5


Bridging the Gap: 
e-learning as a Catalyst for  
Health and Nutrition Awareness
* Dr Akanksha Jain
n recent years, there is an increasing 
awareness regarding health and 
nutrition, driven by the urgent need 
to improve public health outcomes. 
In India, particularly in rural areas, 
disseminating this crucial information has posed 
I
significant challenges. However, the emergence of 
e-learning technologies presents a promising solution. 
E-learning has the potential to transcend geographical 
barriers and provide accessible education, making it a 
powerful catalyst for enhancing health and nutrition 
awareness in rural communities. With traditional 
* The author is an Assistant Professor (Food and Nutrition), Bhagini Nivedita College, University of Delhi.
   Email: akankshajain@bn.du.ac.in
E-learning has emerged as a pivotal tool in enhancing health and nutrition awareness 
in rural India, bridging significant gaps in education and accessibility. Governmental 
schemes such as Digital India, Poshan Abhiyaan, and Ayushman Bharat have catalyzed 
this transformation, yet challenges like digital divide and cultural barriers persist. 
Proposed strategies to overcome the challenges to an extent include infrastructure 
development, community engagement, capacity building, and cultural sensitivity, 
aiming to optimize e-learning effectiveness. By leveraging partnerships, monitoring 
mechanisms, and diversified content, these strategies aim to overcome barriers, 
ensuring sustainable health and nutrition education in remote communities, thereby 
fostering healthier and more empowered rural populations.
37 Kurukshetra       August  2024
methods facing limitations in reaching diverse 
populations, e-learning offers scalable, interactive, 
and customisable platforms like online courses, mobile 
apps, and webinars to effectively educate and empower 
rural residents.
The Indian government has launched several 
schemes and programs to promote e-learning and 
improve health and nutrition awareness in rural areas. 
These initiatives aim to harness technology to overcome 
barriers and ensure equitable access to information and 
services.
1. Digital India Initiative: Launched in 2015, the 
Digital India initiative aims to transform India into a 
digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. 
It focuses on providing high-speed internet access, 
promoting digital literacy, and delivering government 
services electronically. Under this campaign, various 
initiatives have been rolled out to enhance e-learning 
platforms for health and nutrition awareness. The 
establishment of Common Service Centres (CSCs) in 
rural areas provides a digital touchpoint for villagers to 
access e-learning modules and health information.
o e-Sanjeevani: A telemedicine service that 
connects patients in 
rural areas with doctors 
and specialists in urban 
centres through video 
consultations. This 
service improves access 
to healthcare and 
provides timely medical advice. It aims to bridge the 
gap between rural patients and healthcare providers 
through digital platforms.
o DigiLocker: An online platform that enables 
individuals to securely store and share important 
documents, including health records and educational 
certificates. This facilitates easy access to personal 
health information and enhances continuity of care.
o Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta 
Abhiyaan (PMGDISHA): It was launched in 2017 to help 
people in rural areas become digitally literate. Aimed at 
making at least one person in every household digitally 
literate, this program includes modules on health and 
nutrition awareness.
o National Digital Literacy 
Mission (NDLM): Focuses on providing 
digital literacy to citizens, including health-related 
e-learning content.
o e-Health: It was introduced to provide timely 
and effective healthcare services such as online 
registrations, payments, reports, and claims.
o E-education: It was started to provide online 
education in remote and urban areas using technologies 
such as smartphones, apps, and internet services.
o eRaktKosh: It is a centralised blood bank 
management system inaugurated on April 7, 2016, 
for automation of blood banks and has a web-based 
application with Aadhaar linkage facility.
o Services e-Health Assistance and 
Teleconsultation (SeHAT) is the tri-services 
teleconsultation service of the Ministry of Defense 
designed for all entitled personnel and their families. As 
part of the Government’s commitment to Digital India 
and e-governance, SeHAT was launched on May 27, 
2021.
2. National Digital Health Mission (NDHM) : 
Launched in 2020, NDHM aims to create a digital health 
ecosystem that supports universal health coverage. 
Key components of the mission include the creation 
of unique health IDs for individuals, electronic health 
records, and a health information exchange platform. 
These initiatives are particularly beneficial for rural 
populations, as they streamline access to healthcare 
services and improve health outcomes.
3. Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0: Ministry 
of Women and Child Development has implemented 
the Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 during the 
38 Kurukshetra       August  2024
15
th 
Finance Commission period 2021-22 to 2025-26. 
Revised guidelines have been released on June 24, 2024 
with a focus to strengthen ICT component and better 
implementation and monitoring of Mission Poshan 
2.0 with the directions to follow the provisions with 
immediate effect including provision of smart phone 
and data recharge support to Lady Supervisors and 
Block Coordinators, 2% buffer for Smart phones, etc.
With a view to address various gaps and 
shortcomings in the on-going nutrition programme and 
to improve implementation as well as to accelerate 
improvement in nutrition and child development 
outcomes, the existing scheme components have been 
re-organised under Poshan 2.0 into the primary verticals 
given below:
o Nutrition Support for POSHAN through 
Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP) for children 
of the age group of 6 months to 6 years, pregnant 
women and lactating mothers; and for Adolescent 
Girls in the age group of 14 to 18 years in Aspirational 
Districts and North Eastern Region (NER)
o Early Childhood Care and Education (3-6 years) 
and early stimulation for (0-3 years)
o Anganwadi Infrastructure including modern, 
upgraded Saksham Anganwadi 
o Poshan Abhiyaan: Launched in 2018, Poshan 
Abhiyaan aims to reduce stunting, undernutrition, 
and low birth weight in children, as well as anaemia 
in children, adolescents, and women. The mission 
emphasises the use of technology and e-learning to 
spread nutritional awareness.
The mission leverages mobile applications, 
e-learning platforms, and social media to disseminate 
information about nutrition and healthy practices.
ICT-RTM (Information and Communication 
Technology-Real Time Monitoring) uses mobile 
applications to monitor and evaluate the nutrition 
status of beneficiaries. It also provides educational 
content on nutrition and health practices.
Poshan Maah (Nutrition Month) and Poshan 
Pakhwada utilises e-learning tools to conduct 
workshops, webinars, and digital campaigns focused on 
nutrition awareness about the importance of nutrition 
and promote healthy eating habits through Jan Andolan 
and Jan Bhagidari.
‘Poshan Tracker’, a robust ICT enabled platform to 
improve governance with regard to real time monitoring 
of provisioning of supplementary nutrition for prompt 
supervision and management of services.
4. Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission: The 
Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) aims to 
develop the backbone necessary to support the 
integrated digital health infrastructure of the country. 
39 Kurukshetra       August  2024
It will bridge the existing gap amongst different 
stakeholders of healthcare ecosystem through digital 
highways. ABDM has the following components:
o Healthcare Professionals Registry (HPR): It is a 
comprehensive repository of all healthcare professionals 
involved in delivery of healthcare services across both 
modern and traditional systems of medicine. Enrolling in 
the Healthcare Professionals Registry will enable them 
to get connected to India’s digital health ecosystem.
o ABHA Mobile App (PHR): A PHR is an electronic 
record of health-related information on an individual 
that conforms to nationally recognised interoperability 
standards and that can be drawn from multiple sources 
while being managed, shared, and controlled by the 
individual. 
o Health Facility Registry (HFR): It is a 
comprehensive repository of health facilities of the 
nation across different systems of medicine. It includes 
both public and private health facilities including 
hospitals, clinics, diagnostic laboratories and imaging 
centres, pharmacies, etc. Enrolling in the Health Facility 
Registry will enable them to get connected to India’s 
digital health ecosystem.
o Unified Health Interface (UHI): The UHI 
Network is designed as an open protocol connecting 
End User Applications (EUAs) and Health Service 
Provider (HSP) applications. It will facilitate various 
digital health services, such as appointment booking, 
teleconsultation, and service discovery, between 
patients and HSPs.
o ABHA Number: Standardising the identification 
process across healthcare providers is crucial to ensure 
medical records are correctly issued and accessed with 
appropriate consent. Issuing a Unique Health ID (UHID) 
requires collecting basic details such as demographic, 
location, family/relationship, and contact information, 
with an emphasis on easy contact information updates. 
The Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) Number 
will uniquely identify individuals, authenticate them, 
and link their health records across various systems and 
stakeholders with informed consent.
o Aarogya Setu has evolved into a National Health 
App under ABDM. Users can register for a Digital Health 
ID, interact with healthcare providers, and seamlessly 
receive digital lab reports, prescriptions, and diagnoses 
from verified professionals.
o The e-Hospital application is a cloud-based 
Hospital Management Information System that 
connects patients, hospitals, and doctors on a single 
digital platform. It is available to Central and State 
Government, Autonomous, and Cooperative hospitals 
via the SaaS (Software as a Service) model.
The mission includes the development of e-learning 
modules for health professionals and citizens, 
enhancing their knowledge about health practices, 
disease prevention, and nutrition.
5. Swasth Bharat Prerak Programme: The Swasth 
Bharat Prerak (SBP) programme, launched in January 
2018, is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Women & 
Child Development and the Tata Trusts. It supplements 
the path-breaking POSHAN (Prime Minister’s 
Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nourishment) 
Abhiyaan or the National Nutrition Mission (NNM) by 
providing managerial and administrative support to 
the district and state administration for the effective 
implementation of the mission. The programme aims to 
improve health and nutrition outcomes by employing 
technology-driven solutions. It uses e-learning platforms 
to train community health workers and disseminate 
health and nutrition information to rural populations.
Swasth Bharat Yatra: A nationwide campaign that 
includes digital workshops, webinars, and e-learning 
modules on health and nutrition awareness.
6. e-School for Farmers: This program, 
implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers 
Welfare, provides online courses and training modules 
on various aspects of agriculture, including health and 
nutrition. The platform offers video tutorials, interactive 
sessions, and expert advice, enabling farmers to 
enhance their knowledge and improve their livelihoods.
7. National Health Mission (NHM): Launched 
in 2013, aims to provide accessible, affordable, and 
quality healthcare to rural populations. It includes a 
significant focus on maternal and child health, nutrition, 
and disease prevention.
The NHM incorporates e-learning strategies to 
educate healthcare providers and the community about 
health practices and nutrition.
o ASHA Training Modules: E-learning modules 
designed for Accredited Social Health Activists 
(ASHAs) to enhance their knowledge about health 
and nutrition.
40 Kurukshetra       August  2024
o Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK): Uses 
digital platforms to educate mothers about prenatal 
and postnatal care, nutrition, and infant health.
8. School Health Programme under Ayushman 
Bharat: This program aims to improve the health 
and well-being of school children through regular 
health check-ups, health education, and nutritional 
interventions. E-learning tools are used to train 
teachers and health workers in schools about health 
and nutrition, ensuring that children receive accurate 
and relevant information.
o Health and Wellness Ambassadors: Teachers 
trained as Health and Wellness Ambassadors use 
e-learning modules to educate students about health 
and nutrition.
o Fit India School Week: Incorporates e-learning 
activities and webinars to promote physical fitness and 
nutritional awareness among students.
9. Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK): It is 
a child health screening and early intervention program 
that aims to improve the overall health of children through 
regular health check-ups and nutritional support. The 
program uses e-learning platforms to train health workers 
and educate parents about child health and nutrition.
o Mobile Health Teams: These teams use 
e-learning tools to disseminate health and nutrition 
information to parents and caregivers during health 
camps.
o Child Health Screening App: An app that 
provides e-learning content on child health and nutrition 
to healthcare workers and parents.
10. PM e-VIDYA: A comprehensive initiative called 
PM e-VIDYA was initiated as part of Atma Nirbhar Bharat 
Abhiyan on May 17, 2020, which unifies all efforts 
related to digital/online/on-air education to enable 
multi-mode access to education. The initiative includes:
o DIKSHA (one nation, one digital platform) is 
the nation’s digital infrastructure for providing quality 
e-content for school education in states/UTs and QR 
coded Energised Textbooks for all grades are available 
on it. 35 of the 36 states and UTs have on boarded on 
DIKSHA platform and contextualised the content as per 
the local need.
o One earmarked Swayam Prabha TV channel 
per class from Class 1 to 12 (one class, one channel).
o Extensive use of Radio, Community radio and 
CBSE Podcast- Shiksha Vani.
o Special e-content for visually and hearing 
impaired developed on Digitally Accessible Information 
System (DAISY) and in sign language on NIOS website/ 
YouTube.
o Besides, the Ministry has undertaken a 
proactive initiative, named, ‘MANODARPAN’ covering a 
wide range of activities to provide psychosocial support 
to students, teachers and families for Mental Health 
and Emotional Wellbeing.
11. The PM Poshan Scheme (Pradhan Mantri 
Poshan Shakti Nirman) , formerly known as the Mid-
Day Meal Scheme is aimed to provide one hot cooked 
meal in Government and Government-aided schools 
from 2021-22 to 2025-26. Implemented by the Ministry 
of Education, it includes children in pre-schools or Bal 
Vatika (before class I) in primary schools, in addition to 
children of classes I to VIII. Its main objectives are to 
combat hunger and improve education by enhancing 
the nutritional status of children in Government and 
Government-aided schools, encouraging regular 
attendance, and aiding concentration in classroom 
activities.
The scheme plays a significant role in addressing 
health and nutrition-related awareness in rural India 
through e-learning initiatives:
o Integration of Nutrition Education with School 
Curriculum: The PM Poshan Scheme incorporates 
digital learning modules on nutrition and health as part 
of the school curriculum. These modules are designed 
to educate children about balanced diets, hygiene