Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Women and Child Development addresses concerns regarding Anganwadi services under the Integrated Child Development Project (ICDS), particularly in Naxal-affected areas of Jharkhand. The response outlines the Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, a centrally sponsored mission aimed at addressing malnutrition. It details the current status of Anganwadi centres, beneficiaries, and initiatives like PM JANMAN and Dharti Abha Janjatiye Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan, including the sanctioning of new Anganwadi centres and upgrades.
Key Points / Main Content:
Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0:
* This mission subsumes Anganwadi services, Poshan Abhiyaan, and the Scheme for Adolescent Girls (14-18 years) in Aspirational Districts and the North-Eastern region.
* It is a centrally sponsored mission implemented by States and UTs, designed as a universal, self-selecting umbrella with no entry barriers for beneficiaries.
Anganwadi Centre Status:
* Government of India has sanctioned 14 Lakh Anganwadi Centres across the country.
* 38,957 Anganwadi Centres are sanctioned to Jharkhand, with 31,68,971 registered beneficiaries as of July 2025, including 26,65,054 children and 1,20,148 lactating mothers.
PM JANMAN Mission:
* Launched by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, targeting development of 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) across 18 States and 1 UT.
* Focuses on 11 critical interventions across 9 Ministries, including the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
* 2500 Anganwadi Centres are sanctioned for construction at Rs 12 lakh per AWC across the country, including 495 in Jharkhand.
Dharti Abha Janjatiye Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan:
* Aims to improve the socio-economic condition of tribal communities through saturation coverage in tribal-majority areas.
* Targets approximately 63,843 tribal-majority villages with populations of 500 or more, and villages in Aspirational districts.
* The Ministry of Women and Child Development will establish 2000 new Saksham AWCs and upgrade 6000 existing AWCs to Saksham AWCs.
* 875 Anganwadi centres have been sanctioned across the country, including 50 in Jharkhand.
Impact Analysis:
State Governments and Union Territories:
* Impact: Responsible for implementing Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 activities.
* Action Required: Implement and monitor the mission activities, ensuring services reach eligible beneficiaries.
Beneficiaries (Children, Pregnant Women, Lactating Mothers, Adolescent Girls):
* Impact: Access to improved Anganwadi services, addressing malnutrition and promoting well-being.
* Action Required: Register at Anganwadi Centres to receive services.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs:
* Impact: Collaboration with the Ministry of Women and Child Development through the PM JANMAN Mission.
* Action Required: Coordinate interventions in PVTG areas, including the construction of Anganwadi Centres.
Key Entities Referenced
Integrated Child Development Project: A centrally sponsored scheme implemented by the States and UTs, focused on the holistic development of children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers.
Anganwadi Centres: A type of rural child care centre in India, started by the Indian government in 1975 as part of the Integrated Child Development Services program to combat child hunger and malnutrition.
Jharkhand: A state in eastern India where additional Anganwadi Centres are requested.
Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0: An umbrella scheme encompassing various components like Anganwadi services, Poshan Abhiyaan, and Scheme for Adolescent girls, aimed at addressing malnutrition.
Poshan Abhiyaan: Also known as the National Nutrition Mission, is Government of India's flagship programme to improve nutritional outcomes for children, pregnant women and lactating mothers.
PM JANMAN Mission: A mission launched by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs aimed at the development of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).
Ministry of Women and Child Development: The Indian government ministry responsible for policies and programs related to women and child development.
Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups: A sub-classification of Scheduled Tribes, based on criteria such as a pre-agriculture level of technology, low levels of literacy, and economic backwardness.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. *298
TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.08.2025
ANGANWADI CENTRES UNDER ICDS
†*298. SMT. JOBA MAJHI:
Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:
(a) whether several eligible children and lactating mothers are not getting the benefit of
Anganwadi centres run under the Integrated Child Development Project (ICD) due to
lack of adequate number of such centres in the Naxal-affected hilly areas of Jharkhand;
and
(b) if so, whether the Government is likely to take cognizance of the same and approve
setting up of 2000 additional Anganwadi Centres in Jharkhand.
ANSWER
MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI ANNPURNA DEVI)
(a) and (b). A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
*****STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) AND (B) OF LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 298 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.08.2025 REGARDING
“ANGANWADI CENTRES UNDER ICDS”
(a) & (b) Under the 15th Finance Commission, various components like Anganwadi services,
Poshan Abhiyaan and Scheme for Adolescent girls (of 14-18 years in Aspirational Districts
and North-Eastern region) have been subsumed under the umbrella Mission Saksham
Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 (Mission Poshan 2.0) to address the challenge of malnutrition. It is
a Centrally Sponsored mission, where the responsibility for implementation of various
activities lies with the States and UTs. This mission is a universal self-selecting umbrella where
there are no entry barriers for any beneficiary to register and receive services. This mission is
being implemented across the country including the State of Jharkhand.
Under this Mission, services are provided to Children (6 months to 6 years), Pregnant Women,
Lactating Mothers and Adolescent Girls registered at Anganwadi Centres across the country
including State of Jharkhand. Government of India has sanctioned 14 Lakh Anganwadi Centres
across the country out of which 38,957 Anganwadi Centres are sanctioned to State of Jharkhand
wherein 31,68,971 beneficiaries are registered as per the Poshan Tracker data in July 2025. The
registered beneficiaries include 26,65,054 children and 1,20,148 lactating mothers.
Also, the PM JANMAN Mission launched by Ministry of Tribal Affairs, is aimed at targeted
development of 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) residing in 18 States and a
UT. This Mission focuses on 11 critical interventions related to 9 Ministries including Ministry
of Women and Child Development. As on date, a total of 2500 Anganwadi Centres are
sanctioned for construction @ Rs 12 lakh per AWC across the country including 495
Anganwadi Centres in the State of Jharkhand.
Further, the Dharti Abha Janjatiye Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan aims at improving the socio-
economic condition of tribal communities by adopting saturation coverage of tribal families in
tribal majority areas and aspirational block ST villages. The mission focuses on convergence,
outreach and saturation in approximately 63,843 tribal majority villages with populations of
500 or more, where at least 50% are tribal and villages in Aspirational districts, with at least
50 tribal population. Intervention of the Ministry of Women & Child Development includes
establishment of 2000 new Saksham AWCs and upgradation of 6000 existing AWCs to
Saksham AWCs. As on date, the Ministry has sanctioned 875 Anganwadi centres across the
country including 50 AWCs in the State of Jharkhand.
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