**Executive Summary:**
The Ministry of Women and Child Development has reassessed the Integrated Child Development Scheme, reorganizing it under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0. This initiative addresses nutritional and health outcomes for children aged 0-6 years, pregnant women, lactating mothers, and adolescent girls. Efforts are underway to improve Anganwadi Centre (AWC) infrastructure, including sanitation, water, and building upgrades, with specific targets set for the 15th Finance Commission period.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0:**
* Reorganizes nutritional support, early childhood care, and Anganwadi infrastructure under one umbrella.
* Provides six services through Anganwadi centers: Supplementary Nutrition, Preschool Education, Nutrition & Health Education, Immunization, Health Checkup, and Referral Services.
* Focuses on improved nutrition content, delivery, community engagement, behavioral change, and advocacy.
* Addresses Maternal Nutrition, Infant and Young Child Feeding Norms, treatment of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) & Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM), and wellness through AYUSH practices.
* **Anganwadi Infrastructure Improvement:**
* States/UTs directed to colocate AWCs lacking infrastructure in nearby Primary Schools.
* Mini AWCs with one worker to be upgraded to full-fledged AWCs with one worker and one helper.
* **15th Finance Commission (FC) Initiatives:**
* Two lakh AWCs in Government buildings to be strengthened during the 15th FC cycle (40,000 AWCs per year).
* Upgradation aims to improve nutrition delivery and Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE).
* 2,00,000 AWCs have been sanctioned for upgradation to Saksham Anganwadi.
* **MGNREGS Convergence:**
* 50,000 AWC buildings to be constructed over five years (10,000 AWCs per year) starting FY 2021-22 under MGNREGS component.
* Revised cost norms: ₹12 Lakh per AWC (₹8.00 Lakh from MGNREGS, ₹2.00 Lakh from 15th FC, ₹2.00 Lakh from MWCD).
* 40,000 AWCs have been sanctioned for construction under MGNREGS.
* **Water and Sanitation Facilities:**
* Provides funds for drinking water facilities and toilet construction in AWCs.
* Enhanced costs: ₹17,000 for drinking water facility (increased from ₹10,000), ₹36,000 for toilet construction (increased from ₹12,000) under Swachhta Action Plan.
* **PM JANMAN Scheme Convergence:**
* Construction of 2500 AWCs sanctioned in convergence with Pradhan Mantri Janjati Aadivasi Nyay Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN) scheme.
**Impact Analysis:**
* **Children (0-6 years):**
* *Impact:* Improved nutrition, health, and early childhood education through upgraded Anganwadi centers and enhanced services.
* *Action Required:* Access Anganwadi services for supplementary nutrition, preschool education, health checkups, and immunization.
* **Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers:**
* *Impact:* Enhanced nutritional support and health services to improve maternal health and infant outcomes.
* *Action Required:* Utilize Anganwadi centers for nutritional support and health education.
* **Adolescent Girls:**
* *Impact:* Targeted nutritional support and health services to address their specific needs.
* *Action Required:* Participate in Anganwadi programs designed for adolescent girls.
* **States/Union Territories:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for implementing Mission Poshan 2.0 and Saksham Anganwadi at the ground level.
* *Action Required:* Implement the scheme, colocate AWCs, upgrade Mini AWCs, construct new AWCs in convergence with MGNREGS, and ensure the provision of water and sanitation facilities.
* **Ministry of Women and Child Development:**
* *Impact:* Oversees and provides funds for the implementation of the scheme.
* *Action Required:* Provide financial support, monitor progress, and ensure convergence with other schemes.
Key Entities Referenced
Integrated Child Development Scheme: A Government of India programme that addresses the nutritional and health needs of children aged 0-6 years.
Ministry of Women and Child Development: The Indian government ministry responsible for policies and programs related to women and children.
Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0: An umbrella scheme encompassing nutritional support, early childhood care and education, and Anganwadi infrastructure upgrades.
Anganwadi Centres: A network of community-based centers that deliver services under the Mission Poshan 2.0 scheme.
National Health Mission: A centrally sponsored scheme of the Government of India to address the health needs of under-served rural areas.
15th Finance Commission: Refers to the period for which the Fifteenth Finance Commission's recommendations are applicable; used as a timeline for initiatives.
MGNREGS: Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, used in convergence with other schemes to construct Anganwadi Centres.
Pradhan Mantri Janjati Aadivasi Nyay Maha Abhiyan: PM JANMAN, a scheme converged with Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 for construction of Anganwadi Centres.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF WOMEN & CHILD DEVELOPMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 995
TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.07.2025
INTEGRATED CHILD DEVELOPMENT SCHEME
995. SHRI KHALILUR RAHAMAN:
Will the Minister of Women and Child Development be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has taken any initiatives to assess/reassess the approaches
and strategies employed by the Integrated Child Development Scheme programme to
address the nutritional and health outcomes for children aged 0-6 years;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has taken any measures to address the infrastructural
deficiencies in Anganwadi Centres, such as lack of functional sanitation facilities,
access to potable water and pucca buildings and if so, the details thereof; and
(d) if so, the details thereof alongwith the timeline and allocation of resources to address
the same?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI SAVITRI THAKUR)
(a) & (b) During the 15th Finance Commission (FC) period, various components such as
nutritional support for children from 6 months to the age of 6 years, pregnant women and
lactating mothers and Adolescent Girls; Early Childhood Care and Education of children (3-
6 years) and Anganwadi infrastructure including modern, upgraded Saksham Anganwadi
have been reorganised under an umbrella Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0
(Mission Poshan 2.0). The package of following six services is provided under the Mission
Poshan 2.0 scheme through a network of Anganwadi centres across the country:
i. Supplementary Nutrition (SNP),
ii. Pre-school Non-formal Education,
iii. Nutrition & Health Education,
iv. Immunization,
v. Health Check-up,
vi. Referral ServicesThree of the six services, viz., Immunization, Health Check-up and Referral Services are
related to health and are provided through National Health Mission (NHM) & Public Health
Infrastructure.
Mission Poshan 2.0 seeks to address the challenge of malnutrition through improved
nutrition content and delivery. It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, where the responsibility
of implementation lies with the States/UTs.
Under this Mission, a new strategy has been made for reduction in malnutrition and for
improved health, wellness and immunity through activities like community engagement,
outreach, behavioral change, and advocacy. It focuses on Maternal Nutrition, Infant and
Young Child Feeding Norms, treatment of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM)/ Moderate
Acute Malnutrition (MAM) and wellness through AYUSH practices.
To improve infrastructure at the existing AWCs across the country various efforts have been
made. In order to rationalise the number of AWCs across the country vis-à-vis the registered
beneficiaries, Government of India has, directed States/UTs to co-locate AWCs, which are
running on rent without sufficient infrastructure, at nearby Primary Schools, where space is
available Further, the Government has decided to upgrade all Mini AWCs with one worker
to a full- fledged AWCs with one worker and one helper.
(c) & (d) Under Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, for the 15th Finance Commission
cycle, two lakh AWCs located in Government buildings @ 40,000 AWCs per year are to be
strengthened and upgraded for improved nutrition delivery to beneficiaries and for delivery
of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) to stimulate the creative, social, emotional,
cognitive and intellectual development of children under 6 years of age. Till date, 2,00,000
AWCs have been sanctioned for upgradation to Saksham Anganwadi.
Under MGNREGS component, beginning from FY 2021-22, 50000 AWCs building are to
be constructed over a period of five years @10000 AWCs per year. The cost norms for
construction of AWCs in convergence with MGNREGS have been revised to Rs.12 Lakh
per AWC wherein Rs.8.00 Lakh would be provided under MGNREGS, Rs.2.00 Lakh under
15th FC (or any other untied funds) and Rs.2.00 Lakh by MWCD per AWC to be shared
between Centre and States/UTs in the prescribed cost sharing ratio. Till date, 40,000
AWCs have been sanctioned for construction under MGNREGS .
Under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, there is a provision of funds for
providing drinking water facilities and construction of toilets. In order to improve the
infrastructure facility of AWCs, the Ministry has enhanced the cost for providing drinking
water facility at Anganwadi Centre to Rs.17,000/- from Rs.10,000/- and for construction
of toilet to Rs.36,000/ from Rs.12,000/- under Swachhta Action Plan.
Under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, in convergence with Pradhan
Mantri Janjati Aadivasi Nyay Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN) scheme, construction of 2500
AWCs have been sanctioned.
*****