**Executive Summary**
This document contains the response from the Minister of State in the Ministry of Women and Child Development to an unstarred question in Lok Sabha (No. 2471) regarding the implementation of schemes for women and children. The response, scheduled for 13.02.2026, provides data from various National Family Health Surveys (NFHS) and the Poshan Tracker, indicating improvements in malnutrition indicators. It also mentions a third-party evaluation by NITI Aayog for the financial years 2019 to 2024, which found the schemes of the Ministry are relevant.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Malnutrition Indicators:**
* Data from NFHS-1 (1992-93) to NFHS-5 (2019-21) and Poshan Tracker (January 2026) demonstrate improvements in malnutrition indicators (stunting, underweight, and wasting) in children across India.
* **Poshan Abhiyaan:**
* A 2021 World Bank survey in 11 priority States showed the services delivered under Poshan Abhiyaan are associated with improved nutrition behaviors.
* The survey found that the program's nutrition messages reached more than 80% of women.
* 81% of women practiced exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months.
* **Third-Party Evaluation:**
* NITI Aayog conducted a third-party evaluation of the Ministry's schemes for Financial Years 2019 to 2024.
* The study found the schemes of the Ministry are relevant.
* **Scheme Implementation:**
* The implementation of schemes, including the utilization of funds, is reviewed regularly at various levels through physical meetings, video conferences, and field visits.
**Impact Analysis**
**Ministry of Women and Child Development**
*Impact*
The Ministry's schemes have been subject to assessment and evaluation, with data showing improvements in malnutrition indicators and relevance in addressing the issues of women and children.
*Action Required*
Continue regular review and monitoring of scheme implementation and fund utilization.
**Citizens/Beneficiaries (Women and Children)**
*Impact*
Citizens are impacted by the improvement of schemes for Women and Children
*Action Required*
No specific action required.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Women and Child Development: The primary ministry responsible for the schemes discussed.
Poshan Abhiyaan: A key scheme aimed at improving nutrition indicators.
Saksham Anganwadi Yojana: A scheme related to improving nutrition indicators.
Mission Vatsalya: A scheme related to improving nutrition indicators.
National Family Health Survey (NFHS): A survey used to track malnutrition indicators in India.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2471
TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.02.2026
IMPLEMENTATION OF SCHEMES FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN
2471. SHRI SHYAMKUMAR DAULAT BARVE:
Will the Minister of Women and Child Development be pleased to state:
(a) whether Poshan Abhiyaan, Saksham Anganwadi Yojana and Mission Vatsalya, have
not achieved expected improvement in indicators related to malnutrition, anaemia,
stunting among women and children and child protection in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof along with the reasons therefor;
(c) whether any serious shortcomings exist in the implementation of these schemes,
monitoring mechanisms and coordination at the State level, if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the Government has conducted any independent social audit/audit by any other
agency to assess the effectiveness of these schemes, utilisation of budgetary allocations
and on-ground outcomes; and
(e) if so, the details thereof along with the concrete and time-bound steps being taken by
the Government to address and rectify these shortcomings?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI SAVITRI THAKUR)
(a) & (b): Various rounds of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) conducted by Ministry
of Health & Family Welfare since 1992-93 have shown improvement in malnutrition indicators
in children across India. Details of these indicators from NFHS-1 to NFHS-5 are given below:
NFHS Survey Stunting % Underweight % Wasting %
NFHS-1 (1992-93) * 52 53.4 17.5
NFHS-2 (1998-99) ** 45.5 47 15.5NFHS-3 (2005-6) *** 48.0 42.5 19.8
NFHS-4 (2015-16) *** 38.4 35.8 21.0
NFHS-5 (2019-21) *** 35.5 32.1 19.3
Poshan Tracker Data (January’ 2026) *** 31.38 13.12 4.36
* Under 4 years
** Under 3 years
*** Under 5 years
The analysis of the above NFHS and Poshan Tracker data shows improvement in malnutrition
indicators in children across the country. Further, in 2021, the World Bank conducted a survey
in 11 priority States to assess the delivery of nutrition services under Poshan Abhiyaan scheme.
The findings demonstrated that the services delivered under 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.
(c) to (e): NITI Aayog has got conducted a third-party evaluation of the schemes of the Ministry
of Women and Child Development for Financial Years 2019 to 2024. The study found that the
schemes of the Ministry are relevant.
The implementation of schemes including utilization of funds is reviewed on regular basis at
various high levels through physical meetings, video conferences and field visits.
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