Parliament Question: Digitalization of Anganwadi centres

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *123 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.02.2026 DIGITALIZATION OF ANGANWADI CENTERS *123. SHRI CHUNNILAL GARASIYA: Will the Minister of Women and Child Development be pleased to state: (a) whether Government has implemented a comprehensive program for the digital upgradation of Anganwadi centers across the country under the restructured Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)/Mission Poshan framework; (b) if so, the number of Anganwadi centers equipped with digital hardware and software infrastructure such as smartphones, tablets, and computerized data-entry systems, etc., State/Union Territory-wise details thereof; (c) whether an outcome-based evaluation has been conducted to measure the impact of this digitalization on nutrition monitoring, Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), beneficiary authentication, and service delivery efficiencies; and (d) if so, the details thereof? ANSWER MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI ANNPURNA DEVI) (a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House. *****STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 123 TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.02.2026 BY SHRI CHUNNILAL GARASIYA REGARDING DIGITALIZATION OF ANGANWADI CENTERS (a) & (b): Saksham Anganwadi Centre refers to an upgraded and modern version of the traditional Anganwadi Centre, introduced under the Saksham Anganwadi and Mission Poshan 2.0. These Centers are equipped with modern digital software and hardware infrastructure including internet/wifi connectivity, LED screens, water purifier/installation of RO machines and smart learning aids, audio-visual aids, child-friendly learning equipments and art work (educational painting, practice board for children, information board). Such centers are aimed at ensuring improved nutrition delivery and stimulating the creative, social, emotional, cognitive and intellectual development of children (3- 6 years of age) under Early Childhood Care and Education. 2 lakh Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) have been approved for five years under Mission Poshan 2.0 for upgradation as Saksham Anganwadi Centres. The ‘Poshan Tracker’ digital application has also been rolled out as an important ICT based governance tool for monitoring and tracking of all AWCs, AWWs and beneficiaries on defined indicators. • The digital Application is available in 24 languages. • It facilitates registration and tracking of all beneficiaries (pregnant women, lactating mothers, children and adolescent girls) for Anganwadi services and growth indicators. • 14.02 lakh Anganwadi Centres across the country are connected through Poshan Tracker application. As on 31st January 2026, 8.90 crore beneficiaries are registered on Poshan tracker. • Poshan Tracker App facilitates Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) for data entry related to their activities including daily attendance of children, Monitoring of Growth of Children, information on Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) and the provision of Hot Cooked Meals (HCM) and Take-Home Rations (THR) on Poshan Tracker. • Digital learning support has been strengthened by integrating ECCE with Poshan Tracker App. ECCE-Learning module provides daily teaching-learning prompts in the form of videos and voice note for all Anganwadi Workers (AWWs). Navchetana, framework for early childhood stimulation (children 0-3 years age) and Aadharshila, curriculum for children 3-6 years age is available on the digital App to the AWWs as well as beneficiaries for structured and continuous learning.• Facial Recognition System (FRS) in Poshan Tracker ensures that the benefit of Take-Home Ration reaches only the actual/intended beneficiary. It has been introduced to monitor last mile delivery, to remove duplication and risk of leakage of benefits and to make the scheme more transparent. Further, the Ministry releases funds to all States/UTs for procurement of Smart Phones and Growth Monitoring Devices (Infantometer, Stadiometer, Weighing Scale-Infant and Weighing Scale- Mother & Child for height and weight measurement of the beneficiaries) for data entry by the Anganwadi Workers in the Poshan Tracker application. An amount of ₹10,000+ GST per Smart phone and ₹8,000/+GST for a set of 4 GMDs is provided by the Central Government on cost- sharing basis. (c) & (d): Poshan Tracker helps Mission Poshan 2.0 in generating data, providing feedback to the implementing authorities and documenting the impact of scheme to make effective and timely interventions based on the data, thereby facilitating continuous evaluation and the progress of different components such as nutrition monitoring, Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), beneficiary authentication, and service delivery. An outcome-based evaluation study of Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 was conducted by DMEO, NITI Aayog (2025). As per the study, evidence from institutional assessments and household surveys indicates that digitalization through Poshan Tracker App has a multi-dimensional impact on nutrition monitoring, Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), beneficiary authentication, and service delivery efficiency. The Report also highlighted Poshan Tracker as a significant shift from manual, paper-based systems to a technology-enabled governance framework under the Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP).As per the report Poshan Tracker, introduced by MoWCD, has become the cornerstone for digital monitoring of beneficiaries, inventory, and service delivery at Anganwadi Centres (AWCs). The details are as below: Efficient SNP delivery: • Poshan Tracker is a relevant and transformative tool for enhancing service delivery under SNP. • Operational efficiency in SNP service delivery is significantly strengthened by technological integration. • 97.6% states and union territories maintain records digitally using the Poshan Tracker, reflecting the national commitment to digitizing service delivery under Poshan Abhiyaan.e-Governance and evidence-based decision making: • By digitizing key processes, Poshan tracker app supports evidence-based decision- making, improves accountability, and reduces manual errors in reporting. • The expansion of digital platforms like the Poshan Tracker represents a foundational shift in governance, enabling greater responsiveness, efficiency, and transparency in the SNP’s last-mile delivery. • The tool has introduced useful features such as Face Recognition Systems (FRS) and e- KYC for improved beneficiary verification. • Proactive outreach strategies by AWWs and the use of technology have further facilitated improved geographic equity. Real time monitoring and effective service delivery: • A key pillar of Poshan Abhiyaan is the integration of technology for service delivery and monitoring, particularly through the provisioning of smartphones and Growth Monitoring Devices to AWWs and Supervisors. • These digital tools, coupled with the Poshan Tracker application, enable real-time beneficiary tracking, growth monitoring, and evidence-based decision-making at the grassroot level. • By equipping frontline workers with smart phones and GMDs, comprising stadiometers, infantometers, and weighing scales, the scheme ensures that critical nutrition services are delivered with greater accuracy, timeliness, and accountability. • This coherence between technology and service delivery strengthens the infrastructure backbone of the Anganwadi ecosystem, empowering functionaries to deliver integrated services more efficiently and enhancing last-mile connectivity for vulnerable beneficiaries. • The availability of GMDs at Anganwadi Centres indicate substantial infrastructure coverage necessary for effective implementation of the scheme’s technology-driven components. • Increased awareness among beneficiaries, improved tracking of child growth parameters, and more active community engagement in nutrition-related behaviours are indicators of how Poshan Abhiyaan is reinforcing and amplifying the impact of core Anganwadi services. *****