**Executive Summary**
This document is the answer to Unstarred Question No. 2210 in the Lok Sabha, addressed to the Minister of Women and Child Development, regarding the implementation of key women schemes. The answer, provided by the Minister of State, outlines the government's approach to women and child development, the implementation of schemes like Poshan Abhiyaan, One Stop Centres, and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, and monitoring mechanisms. The question was slated to be answered on 12.12.2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Government Priority**:
* The government prioritizes the safety, security, health, education, nutrition, and empowerment of all women and children.
* A multi-pronged approach is used to address their educational, social, and economic empowerment.
* **Poshan Abhiyaan/Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0**:
* Poshan Abhiyaan, launched in March 2018, is now known as Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 (Mission Poshan 2.0).
* This umbrella mission addresses malnutrition, subsuming components like Anganwadi services and schemes for adolescent girls.
* The schemes are universal and self-selecting, with no entry barriers for registration and access to free services.
* **Mission Shakti (One Stop Centres (OSC) and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP))**:
* One Stop Centres (OSC) are part of the Sambal vertical under Mission Shakti.
* OSCs provide integrated support to women affected by violence, offering medical aid, legal advice, temporary shelter, police assistance, and psycho-social counseling.
* Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) Scheme is a component of Sambal vertical under the umbrella Mission Shakti, launched on January 22, 2015.
* The BBBP scheme addresses the declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR) and empowers girls and women by influencing mindset and behavior.
* **Implementation and Monitoring**:
* Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 and Mission Shakti are Centrally Sponsored Schemes implemented by State Governments/UT Administrations.
* Funds are released based on the Department of Expenditure guidelines for Single Nodal Agencies (SNA).
* The Programme Approval Board (PAB)/Annual Programme Implementation Plan (APIP) monitors progress with States/UTs annually.
* The Ministry officials continuously review the schemes via meetings, video conferencing, and field visits.
* **Evaluation**:
* NITI Aayog conducted an evaluation of the Ministry's schemes for FY 2019-2024.
* The study found OSC and BBBP highly relevant and effectively addressing gender challenges.
* Poshan Abhiyaan's relevance was found satisfactory for tackling malnutrition.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Governments/UT Administrations**
* **Impact**: Responsible for implementing Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 and Mission Shakti.
* **Action Required**: Adhere to Department of Expenditure guidelines for fund usage. Participate in the annual monitoring process conducted by the Programme Approval Board (PAB)/Annual Programme Implementation Plan (APIP).
**Women and Children (especially in rural and marginalised communities)**
* **Impact**: Intended beneficiaries of the schemes, gaining access to improved safety, security, health, education, nutrition, and empowerment services.
* **Action Required**: Register for the schemes and receive free services offered.
**NITI Aayog**
* **Impact**: Evaluated the schemes of the Ministry of Women and Child Development for Financial Years 2019 to 2024.
* **Action Required**: Publish their findings to provide recommendations for the Ministry's initiatives.
**Ministry of Women and Child Development**
* **Impact**: Overseeing the implementation and monitoring the progress of the schemes
* **Action Required**: Continuously review the schemes via meetings, video conferencing, and field visits to States/UTs.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Women and Child Development: The primary ministry responsible for the schemes discussed in the document.
Mission Shakti: An umbrella scheme encompassing One Stop Centre and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao schemes.
Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 (Mission Poshan 2.0): Umbrella Mission addressing challenges of malnutrition subsuming various components like Anganwadi services and Poshan Abhiyaan
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP): A scheme under Mission Shakti aimed at addressing declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR) and empowerment of girls and women.
POSHAN Abhiyaan: Erstwhile National Nutrition Mission, now part of Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 (Mission Poshan 2.0).
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2210
TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.12.2025
IMPLEMENTATION OF KEY WOMEN SCHEMES
2210. SHRI K RADHAKRISHNAN:
Will the Minister of Women and Child Development be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware of delays/gaps in the implementation of key schemes
such as POSHAN Abhiyaan, One Stop Centres and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao in the
country;
b) if so, the details of the reasons for the slow utilisation of allocated funds under these
schemes during the last three years;
(c) whether any independent assessment has been conducted to evaluate the impact of these
programmes; and
(d) if so, the details of the steps being taken to ensure effective delivery of services to
women and children, especially among rural and marginalised communities?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI SAVITRI THAKUR)
(a) to (d): The Government gives utmost priority to the safety, security, health, education,
nutrition and empowerment of all women and children and has adopted multi-pronged
approach to address their educational, social and economic empowerment.
Poshan Abhiyaan (erstwhile National Nutrition Mission) was launched in March 2018. 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 called Saksham Anganwadi and
Poshan 2.0 (Mission Poshan 2.0) to address the challenge of malnutrition. The schemes under
this mission are universal and self-selecting where there are no entry barriers for any
beneficiary to register and receive free services.One Stop Centre (OSC) is a component of the Sambal vertical under the umbrella Mission
Shakti. It provides integrated and immediate support and assistance under one roof to women
affected by violence and those in distress, both in private and public spaces. It provides services
like medical aid, legal aid and advice, temporary shelter, police assistance and psycho-social
counselling to needy women.
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) Scheme is also a component of Sambal vertical under the
umbrella Mission Shakti. BBBP Scheme was launched on 22nd January 2015 to help address
declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR) and attendant issue of empowerment of girls and women. The
scheme tries to create mindset and behavioural changes towards the girl child by informing,
influencing, motivating, engaging, and empowering various stakeholders.
Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 and Mission Shakti are Centrally Sponsored
Scheme and implementation of these scheme lies with the State Governments/UT
Administrations. Funds are being released on the basis of guidelines of Department of
Expenditure, prescribed for Single Nodal agency (SNA) or SNA SPARSH of the Public
Financial Management System (PFMS).
Further, once in a year, the Programme Approval Board (PAB)/ Annual Programme
Implementation Plan (APIP) monitors with States and UTs, the progress of activities under the
scheme and reviews status of achievement of objectives, effective delivery of services to
women and children including rural and marginalized communities. Apart from this, officials
of the Ministry continuously review the scheme through meetings, video conferencing and by
making field visits to States/UTs from time to time.
NITI Aayog has conducted an evaluation of the schemes of the Ministry of Women and Child
Development for Financial Years 2019 to 2024. The study found that One Stop Centre (OSC)
and Beti Bachao and Beti Padhao (BBBP) are highly relevant and effectively addresses key
gender challenges through integrated, data-driven services. By prioritizing vulnerable groups
and fostering behaviour change through BBBP, the initiative strengthens women’s safety and
empowerment across the country. In respect of Poshan Abhiyaan, the study found its relevance
to be satisfactory for tackling malnutrition in the country.
*****