**Executive Summary**
This report, in response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2416, details the functioning of Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) in Lakshadweep under Mission Saksham Anganwadi & POSHAN 2.0. It covers infrastructure, staffing, service delivery, and funding for the past three years and the current year. Beneficiary data and progress monitoring are available on the Poshan Tracker.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) and Beneficiaries:**
* Details on the number of AWCs and the number of beneficiaries (children aged 0-6 years, pregnant women, and lactating mothers) in Lakshadweep are available on the Poshan Tracker.
* **Infrastructure, Staffing, and Service Delivery:**
* All sanctioned AWCs in Lakshadweep have basic infrastructure (drinking water, functional toilets, electricity, functional kitchen).
* No vacancies for Anganwadi Workers and Helpers have been reported.
* All AWCs are operational and delivering six services: Supplementary Nutrition, Pre-school Education, Nutrition & Health Education, Immunization, Health Check-up, and Referral Services.
* **Funding:**
* Funds allocated and utilized in Lakshadweep from 2022-23 to 2025-26 (in crores) are detailed below:
* 2022-23: Funds released 0.44, Funds utilized 0.44
* 2023-24: Funds released 2.88, Funds utilized 2.73
* 2024-25: Funds released 1.35
* 2025-26: Funds released 0.81
* **Roles and Responsibilities:**
* Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 is a centrally sponsored scheme.
* The Central Government is responsible for policy and planning.
* UT Administrations are responsible for day-to-day program implementation, including staff recruitment.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Central Government**
* **Impact:** Responsible for overall policy and planning of the Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 scheme.
* **Action Required:** Ensure continued support and oversight for the effective implementation of the scheme in Lakshadweep.
**Stakeholder: UT Administration of Lakshadweep**
* **Impact:** Responsible for the day-to-day implementation of the Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 scheme.
* **Action Required:** Maintain existing infrastructure, staffing levels, and ensure the delivery of the six core services at all Anganwadi Centres; continue reporting data on the Poshan Tracker.
**Stakeholder: Anganwadi Workers and Helpers**
* **Impact:** Responsible for providing services and support to the community.
* **Action Required:** Continue to deliver the six services envisaged under the scheme effectively.
**Stakeholder: Beneficiaries (Children, Pregnant Women, Lactating Mothers)**
* **Impact:** Access to supplementary nutrition, early childhood care, and health services provided through the Anganwadi Centres.
* **Action Required:** Engage with Anganwadi services and participate in health check-ups and growth monitoring programs.
Key Entities Referenced
Mission Saksham Anganwadi & POSHAN 2.0: Centrally sponsored scheme focusing on supplementary nutrition, early childhood care, and growth monitoring through Anganwadi Centres.
Lakshadweep: Union Territory where Anganwadi Centres are functioning under the Mission Saksham Anganwadi & POSHAN 2.0.
Ministry of Women & Child Development: The central ministry responsible for policy and planning of Mission Saksham Anganwadi & POSHAN 2.0
Anganwadi Centres (AWCs): Centres providing services under Mission Saksham Anganwadi & POSHAN 2.0.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF WOMEN & CHILD DEVELOPMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 2416
TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.02.2026
AWCS FUNCTIONING IN LAKSHADWEEP
2416. SHRI MUHAMMED HAMDULLAH SAYEED:
Will the Minister of Women and Child Development be pleased to state:
(a) the details of Anganwadi Centres functioning under Mission Saksham Anganwadi &
POSHAN 2.0 in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep, island-wise;
(b) the number of children (0–6 years), pregnant women and lactating mothers benefitting
from supplementary nutrition, early childhood care and growth monitoring under the
Mission;
(c) whether the Government has identified any gaps or challenges in infrastructure,
staffing, supply of nutrition and service delivery in Lakshadweep and the corrective
measures taken or proposed; and
(d) the funds allocated, released and utilised under the Mission in Lakshadweep during the
last three years and the current year?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI SAVITRI THAKUR)
(a) and (b) The number of Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) functioning under Mission Saksham
Anganwadi & POSHAN 2.0 in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep and number of
beneficiaries including children (0–6 years), pregnant women and lactating mothers under the
Mission is available at the link: https://www.poshantracker.in/statistics.
(c) Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 is a Centrally Sponsored scheme. The Central
Government is responsible for policy and planning and the State Governments/UT
Administrations are responsible for day-to-day program implementation including recruitment
of staff for implementation of the scheme.
As par data available on Poshan Tracker, all Anganwadi Centres sanctioned to the UT of
Lakshadweep have basic infrastructure facilities like drinking water, functional toilets,
permanent electricity connection, functional kitchen etc. Also, no vacancy with respect to
Anganwadi Workers and Anganwadi Helpers has been reported by UT of Lakshadweep on the
Poshan Tracker. With regard to service delivery, all Anganwadi Centres in the UT areoperational and are delivering the six services envisaged under the scheme, including
Supplementary Nutrition (SNP), Pre-school Non-formal Education, Nutrition & Health
Education, Immunization, Health Check-up, and Referral Services. Growth monitoring of
beneficiaries is undertaken and data is available on Poshan Tracker at the link:
https://www.poshantracker.in/statistics.
(d) The funds released and utilised under the Mission in UT of Lakshadweep during the last
three years and the current year is as below:
(Rs. in Crore)
Name of UT 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26
Funds Fund Funds Fund Funds Funds
released utilized released utilized released released
Lakshadweep 0.44 0.44 2.88 2.73 1.35 0.81
******