**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1311 regarding Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) in Bihar. The question inquired about AWCs not operating in their own buildings in Darbhanga and the steps taken to provide permanent structures. The Minister of Women and Child Development responded on 06.02.2026, outlining various provisions and schemes aimed at constructing AWC buildings.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Data on AWCs in Darbhanga:**
* The number of AWCs in Darbhanga district not operating in their own buildings is available at a specific link.
* **Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0:**
* Provision to construct 50,000 AWC buildings over five years (10,000 AWCs per year).
* Convergence with MGNREGS is planned.
* Funding: Rs.12 Lakh per AWC: Rs.8.00 Lakh from MGNREGS, Rs.2.00 Lakh from 15th Finance Commission (or other untied funds), Rs.2.00 Lakh from MWCD with prescribed cost sharing.
* **Other Funding Sources:**
* States/UTs advised to use funds from MPLADS, RIDF, Finance Commission Grants to Panchayati Raj Institutions, and MSDP.
* **PM-JANMAN:**
* 2,500 AWCs sanctioned for construction in PVTG areas.
* **DAJGUA:**
* 875 AWCs sanctioned for construction.
* **Vibrant Village Programme (VVP):**
* 101 AWCs sanctioned for construction in northern border areas (Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Ladakh).
* **Co-location of AWCs:**
* Directions issued to co-locate rented AWCs with insufficient infrastructure at nearby primary schools.
* Guidelines for Co-locating Anganwadi Centres within Government Primary Schools have been issued jointly with Ministry of Education.
* **Implementation:**
* Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 implementation is under State Governments' and UTs' administration.
* Infrastructure matters are regularly addressed through engagements and video conferences to ensure service delivery.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: State Governments and UT Administrations**
* **Impact:** They are responsible for implementing Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0. They are expected to facilitate the construction and co-location of AWCs.
* **Action Required:** They are required to use funds from various schemes (MGNREGS, Finance Commission, MPLADS, etc.) to construct AWC buildings, follow guidelines for co-locating AWCs in primary schools, and address infrastructure matters to ensure uninterrupted service delivery.
**Stakeholder: Beneficiaries of Anganwadi Centres**
* **Impact:** Improved infrastructure of Anganwadi Centres will lead to better service delivery.
* **Action Required:** No direct action is required from beneficiaries.
**Stakeholder: Ministry of Women and Child Development**
* **Impact:** The Ministry shares some funding and has general oversight over the scheme.
* **Action Required:** Provide funds, facilitate the programme and ensure the states can perform the infrastructure improvements.
Key Entities Referenced
Anganwadi Centres (AWCs): Childcare centers providing services under the Integrated Child Development Services scheme. The document discusses the construction and operation of AWCs, particularly those not operating in their own buildings.
Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0: A program providing for the construction of Anganwadi Centre buildings and related services.
Ministry of Women and Child Development: The central ministry responsible for the Anganwadi program, including the matters addressed in the question.
Bihar: Indian state where the Anganwadi Centres in question are located.
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS): A rural employment scheme leveraged for funding the construction of Anganwadi Centre buildings.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF WOMEN & CHILD DEVELOPMENT
LOK SABHA
Unstarred Question No. 1311
TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.02.2026
AWCs IN BIHAR
1311. SHRI GOPAL JEE THAKUR:
Will the Minister of Women and Child Development be pleased to state:
(a) the number of Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) that are currently not operating in their own
buildings in Darbhanga district of Bihar;
(b) the concrete steps taken so far by the Central Government and the State Government to
provide permanent and dedicated buildings for Anganwadi Centres;
(c) whether the Government proposes to ensure that all Anganwadi Centres are operated in
their own buildings, if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether any specific timeline has been fixed for the same; and
(e) if so, the details thereof, district and year-wise
ANSWER
MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI ANNPURNA DEVI)
(a) The number of Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) that are currently not operating in their own
buildings in Darbhanga district of Bihar is available at the link:
https://www.poshantracker.in/statistics.
(b) to (e) Under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, there is a provision of
construction of 50000 AWCs buildings over a period of five years @10000 AWCs per year in
convergence with Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme
(MGNREGS) @Rs.12 Lakh per AWC wherein Rs.8.00 Lakh would be provided under
MGNREGS, Rs.2.00 Lakh under 15th Finance Commission (FC) (or any other untied funds)
and Rs.2.00 Lakh by MWCD per AWC shared between Centre and States/UTs in the
prescribed cost sharing ratio.
Further, States/UTs have also been advised to continue to tap funds for construction of AWC
buildings from various schemes such as Member of Parliament Local Area Development
Scheme (MPLADS), Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF), Finance CommissionGrants to Panchayati Raj Institutions, Multi- Sectoral Development Programme (MSDP) of
Ministry of Minority Affairs, etc.
Under PM-JANMAN (Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan), a total of 2,500
Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) have been sanctioned for construction in PVTG (Particularly
Vulnerable Tribal Groups) areas.
Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA) launched by the Ministry of Tribal
Affairs (MoTA) focusses on convergence, outreach and saturation in approximately, 63,843
villages. Under DAGJUA, 875 AWCs have been sanctioned for construction.
Vibrant Village Programme (VVP) Phase-I focuses on comprehensive development of villages
of northern border across four states Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, and
Sikkim and the UT of Ladakh. A total of 101 AWCs has been sanctioned for construction in
these border areas.
Directions have been issued to States/UTs to co-locate Anganwadi Centres, which are running
on rent without sufficient infrastructure, at nearby Primary Schools, where space is available.
Guidelines for Co-locating Anganwadi Centres within Government Primary Schools have been
issued jointly with Ministry of Education.
Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 is a Centrally Sponsored scheme. The
implementation of the scheme falls under the ambit of State Governments and UTs
administration. The matter regarding infrastructure is regularly taken up with them through
sustained engagements and video conferences so as to ensure uninterrupted delivery of services
to the beneficiaries.
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