In response to Un-Starred Question No. 1208, regarding beneficiaries under POSHAN Abhiyaan, the Ministry of Women and Child Development provides the following information: Under Mission Poshan 2.0, Rs. 3593.76 lakhs has been released to the State of Tamil Nadu in FY 2025-26. Data on the number of beneficiaries in Thanjavur and Tirunelveli districts is available on the Poshan Tracker dashboard at https://www.poshantracker.in/statistics. In 2021, the World Bank conducted a survey on Poshan Abhiyaan in 11 priority States, assessing the program's delivery of nutrition services and the nutritional knowledge of beneficiaries. The survey showed improved nutrition behaviors associated with the services, with nutrition messages reaching over 80% of women and 81% practicing exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months. A third-party evaluation by NITI Aayog in 2020 and 2025 found Poshan Abhiyaan satisfactory for tackling malnutrition.
Key Entities Referenced
POSHAN Abhiyaan: A program focused on improving nutritional outcomes in India.
Mission Poshan 2.0: An evolved and expanded form of the POSHAN Abhiyaan.
Ministry of Women and Child Development: The primary ministry responsible for POSHAN Abhiyaan.
Tamil Nadu: A state in India where funds were allocated under POSHAN Abhiyaan.
NITI Aayog: Organization that conducted impact assessment of Poshan Abhiyaan
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
LOK SABHA
UN-STARRED QUESTION NO. 1208
TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.02.2026
BENEFICIARIES UNDER POSHAN ABHIYAAN
1208. SHRI MURASOLI S:
SHRI ROBERT BRUCE C:
Will the Minister of Women and Child Development be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the funds allocated under POSHAN Abhiyaan to the state of Tamil Nadu;
(b) the number of beneficiaries in Thanjavur and Tirunelveli district of said State;
(c) whether the Government has conducted any comprehensive study on the nutritional
requirements in the country during the last five years; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reason therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI ANNPURNA DEVI)
(a): Under Mission Poshan 2.0, in FY 2025-26, Rs. 3593.76 lakhs have been released to the
State of Tamil Nadu as on date.
(b): The number of beneficiaries in Thanjavur and Tirunelveli district is available at Poshan
Tracker dashboard: https://www.poshantracker.in/statistics.
(c) and (d): In 2021, the World Bank conducted a survey on Poshan Abhiyaan in 11 priority
States. The aim of this survey was to assess the program’s delivery of nutrition services,
whether the nutritional knowledge of beneficiaries had improved and if they had adopted more
appropriate nutrition and feeding practices.
The findings demonstrated that the services delivered through the Poshan Abhiyaan – the
receipt of relevant messages, home visits by the Anganwadi Worker, and attendance at
community-based events – were associated with improved nutrition behaviors. The survey also
found that the program's nutrition messages reached more than 80% of women, and that 81%
of women practiced exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months.
Further, a third-party evaluation and impact assessment of Poshan Abhiyaan were conducted
by NITI Aayog in 2020 and again in 2025 and they have found relevance of Poshan Abhiyaan
to be satisfactory for tackling malnutrition in the country.
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