Parliament Question: Improvements under POSHAN 2.0

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3038 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.03.2026 IMPROVEMENTS UNDER POSHAN 2.0 3038. SHRI RATANJIT PRATAP NARAIN SINGH: SHRI SANJAY SETH: Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state: (a) what improvements have been recorded in child nutrition indicators under POSHAN 2.0, details thereof; (b) whether Anganwadi Centres have been upgraded with digital monitoring tools, if so, the details thereof, if not, the reasons therefor; (c) how community-based awareness programmes are promoting maternal and child nutrition, details thereof; and (d) to what extent convergence with health schemes has enhanced POSHAN outcomes, details thereof? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI SAVITRI THAKUR) (a) Poshan Tracker digital application was launched by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD) which collects near real time data of child nutrition indicators under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 (Mission Poshan 2.0). The Poshan tracker data has shown improvement in the child malnutrition indicators in the country over the years. The progress of these indicators among children is available on Poshan Tracker Dashboard at: https://www.poshantracker.in/statistics (b) Mission Poshan 2.0 empowers the frontline functionaries by providing them with smartphones. All Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) are provided with internet connectivity charges at the rate of ₹2000 per annum. Additionally, there is a provision of Growth Monitoring Devices (GMDs) ateach Anganwadi Centre (AWC) for the regular growth monitoring of registered beneficiaries. Poshan Tracker facilitates monitoring and tracking of all AWCs, AWWs and beneficiaries on defined indicators. Technology under Poshan Tracker is also leveraged for dynamic identification of stunting, wasting and under-weight prevalence among children. (c) One of the major activities undertaken under Mission Poshan 2.0 is Community Mobilization and Awareness to educate people on nutritional aspects, as adoption of good nutrition habits requires sustained efforts for behavioural change. States and UTs conduct regular sensitisation activities under Jan Andolans during Poshan Pakhwada and Poshan Maah celebrated in the months of March-April and September, respectively. More than 150 crore activities have been reported in the past Jan Andolan campaigns, held under Poshan Abhiyaan since 2018. Further, bimonthly Community Based Events (CBEs) are also organized by AWWs for promoting maternal and child nutrition. Around 9.8 crore CBEs have been reported across the country from 2021 to February 2026. (d) Adopting a whole of Government approach, both the Ministry of Women and Child Development and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare undertake targeted interventions to improve the health and nutritional status of children in the country. Mission Poshan 2.0 delivers a package of six services - supplementary nutrition, pre-school non-formal education, nutrition and health education, immunization, health check-ups and referral services. Three of the six services, viz., immunization, health check-up and referral services are provided through the National Health Mission & Public Health Infrastructure. Village Health Sanitation and Nutrition Days further support maternal and child health services and nutrition awareness, facilitated by coordinated efforts of ASHAs, Anganwadi workers, and ANMs at the grassroots level. *****