Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Women and Child Development addresses malnutrition through Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, a centrally sponsored scheme implemented by States and UTs. The mission aims to improve nutrition, health, and early childhood care, including in tribal areas and for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs). Initiatives include supplementary nutrition, community mobilization, Anganwadi upgrades, and training programs, with ongoing efforts to enhance infrastructure and capacity building.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0:**
* Subsumes Anganwadi services, Poshan Abhiyaan, and Scheme for Adolescent Girls.
* Aims to develop human capital, address malnutrition, and promote nutrition awareness.
* Focuses on maternal nutrition, infant feeding, and treatment of malnutrition.
* **Supplementary Nutrition:**
* Provides nutrition to children (6 months to 6 years), pregnant women, lactating mothers, and adolescent girls.
* Adheres to revised nutrition norms (January 2023) emphasizing diet diversity.
* Provides extra nutrition to Severely Acutely Malnourished (SAM) children.
* Incorporates fortified rice and millets for micronutrient intake.
* **Community Engagement and Awareness:**
* Emphasizes community mobilization and behavioral change through Jan Andolans (Poshan Maahs and Pakhwadas).
* Requires Anganwadi workers to conduct two Community Based Events (CBEs) monthly.
* **Anganwadi Upgrades and Infrastructure:**
* Approves upgrading 2 lakh Anganwadi Centres to Saksham Anganwadis with better infrastructure (internet, LED screens, water purifiers, learning equipment).
* Sanctions upgrading 1,11,363 Mini-AWCs to full-fledged Anganwadi Centres (as of 08.07.2025).
* **PM JANMAN Mission and DAJGUA:**
* PM JANMAN focuses on the development of 75 PVTGs, including construction of 2500 AWCs.
* DAJGUA aims to improve socio-economic conditions of tribal communities, involving establishment/upgradation of Saksham AWCs from FY 2024-25 to FY 2028-29.
* **Training and Capacity Building:**
* Imparts training to officials and field functionaries via the "Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi" (PBPB) initiative.
* 5,71,667 Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) have been trained as of 28 July 2025.
* **Malnutrition Indicators:**
* NFHS data and Poshan Tracker data show improvement in malnutrition indicators in children across India.
* **Funding:**
* Details of funds released to States and UTs under Saksham Anganwadi and Mission Poshan 2.0 are provided in Annexure.
Impact Analysis:
* **Children (6 months to 6 years):**
* Impact: Improved nutrition and health outcomes through supplementary nutrition and early childhood care.
* Action Required: Enrollment in Anganwadis and participation in growth monitoring activities.
* **Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers:**
* Impact: Enhanced nutritional support to address intergenerational malnutrition.
* Action Required: Registration with Anganwadi centers to receive supplementary nutrition and health services.
* **Adolescent Girls:**
* Impact: Addressed nutritional needs to break the cycle of malnutrition.
* Action Required: Participation in supplementary nutrition programs and awareness activities.
* **Anganwadi Workers:**
* Impact: Enhanced skills and infrastructure to deliver improved services.
* Action Required: Participate in training programs, conduct community-based events, and implement upgraded facilities.
* **States and UTs:**
* Impact: Responsible for implementing Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0.
* Action Required: Utilize allocated funds effectively, conduct sensitization activities, and monitor program outcomes.
* **Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs):**
* Impact: Targeted development through PM JANMAN Mission, focusing on critical interventions.
* Action Required: Engage with local Anganwadi centers and participate in community mobilization activities.
Key Entities Referenced
Integrated Child Development Services ICDS: A centrally sponsored scheme by the Ministry of Women and Child Development to tackle malnutrition and improve child development outcomes.
Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0: An umbrella mission subsuming various components like Anganwadi services, Poshan Abhiyaan and Scheme for Adolescent girls to address malnutrition and promote nutrition awareness.
Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups PVTGs: A subgroup of tribal communities with specific vulnerabilities, targeted by government initiatives.
Anganwadi Centres: Community-based child care and mother care centers that provide services under the ICDS scheme.
National Food Security Act NFSA: The Act under which Extra Supplementary Nutrition is provided to Severely Acutely Malnourished SAM children.
Poshan Maahs: Sensitization activities conducted during the months of September.
PM JANMAN: A mission launched by Ministry of Tribal Affairs for targeted development of 75 PVTGs residing in 18 States and a UT.
Ministry of Women and Child Development: The ministry responsible for implementing schemes and initiatives related to women and child development, including ICDS and Mission Poshan 2.0.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3270
TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.08.2025
INTEGRATED CHILD DEVELOPMENT SERVICES IN TRIBAL AREAS
3270. SMT. HIMADRI SINGH:
DR. HEMANT VISHNU SAVARA:
SHRI BHOJRAJ NAG:
SHRI BIBHU PRASAD TARAI:
Will the Minister of Women and Child Development be pleased to state:
(a) the current status of malnutrition among children, pregnant women and lactating
mothers in the tribal areas of various States of the country especially among
Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), State-wise;
(b) the details of the specific steps taken under the Integrated Child Development
Services (ICDS) scheme to tackle malnutrition and improve child development
outcomes in these tribal areas;
(c) whether there are any ongoing/proposed initiatives for the capacity building of
Anganwadi workers in these areas, if so, the details thereof;
(d) the details of funds allocated/spent under ICDS Schemes for tribal areas of the States
during the last five years, State-wise; and
(e) the details of the measurable achievements made through ICDS in improving
nutrition and health indicators in tribal areas till now along with outcome thereof
during said period?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI SAVITRI THAKUR)
(a) to (e): 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
Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 (Mission Poshan 2.0) to address the challenge of
malnutrition. It is a Centrally Sponsored mission, where the responsibility for implementation
of various activities lies with the States and UTs. This mission is a universal self-selecting
umbrella scheme where there are no entry barriers for any beneficiary to register and
receive services. This mission is being implemented across the country including in all the
tribal areas. The objectives of Mission are as follows:
• To contribute to development of human capital in the country;
• Address challenge of malnutrition;
• Promote nutrition awareness and good eating habits for sustainable health and
wellbeingUnder Mission Poshan 2.0 a new strategy has been made for reduction in malnutrition and
for improved health, wellness and immunity through activities like community engagement,
outreach, behavioural 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 reduce prevalence of
wasting, stunting, and being underweight.
Under this mission, Supplementary Nutrition is provided to Children (6 months to 6 years),
Pregnant Women, Lactating Mothers and Adolescent Girls to beat the intergenerational
cycle of malnutrition by adopting a life cycle approach. Supplementary nutrition is provided
in accordance with the nutrition norms contained in Schedule-II of the NFSA. These norms
have been revised in January 2023. The old norms were largely calorie-specific; however,
the revised norms are more comprehensive and balanced in terms of both quantity and
quality of supplementary nutrition based on the principles of diet diversity that provides for
quality protein, healthy fats and micronutrients. Extra Supplementary Nutrition is provided
to Severely Acutely Malnourished (SAM) children as per National Food Security Act
(NFSA).
Fortified rice is being supplied to AWCs to meet the requirement of micro-nutrients and to
control anaemia among women and children. Greater emphasis is being laid on the use of
millets at least once a week for preparation of Hot Cooked Meal and Take Home ration at
Anganwadi centers.
Ministries of Women & Child Development and Health & Family Welfare have jointly
released the protocol for Community Management of Malnutrition (CMAM) to prevent and
treat severely acute malnutrition in children and for reducing associated morbidity and
mortality.
Under this Mission, one of the major activities undertaken is Community Mobilization and
Awareness Advocacy to educate people on nutritional aspects as adoption of good nutrition
habit requires sustained efforts for behavioural change. State and UTs are conducting and
reporting regular sensitisation activities under Jan Andolans during Poshan Maahs and
Poshan Pakhwadas celebrated in the months of September and March-April respectively.
Community Based Events (CBEs) have served as a significant strategy in changing
nutritional practices and all Anganwadi workers are required to conduct two Community
Based Events every month.
Under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, as on date, 2 lakh Anganwadi Centres
have been approved to be upgraded as Saksham Anganwadis for improved nutrition
delivery and for imparting early childhood care and education. Saksham Anganwadis are
provided with better infrastructure than the conventional Anganwadi Centres which includes
internet/Wi-Fi connectivity, LED screens, water purifier/installation of RO Machine and smart
learning equipments.
The Government has also taken a policy decision to upgrade all Mini AWCs to a full-fledged
Anganwadi Centres with one worker and one helper each to help in carrying out various
responsibilities under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 including
responsibilities related to Early Childhood Care & Education. Sanction for upgradation of
1,11,363 Mini-AWCs to main AWCs has been issued as on 08.07.2025.
The PM JANMAN Mission launched by Ministry of Tribal Affairs aims for targeted
development of 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) residing in 18 States
and a UT. This Mission focuses on 11 critical interventions related to 9 key Ministriesincluding Ministry of Women and Child Development. As on date, a total of 2500 AWCs
have been approved for construction under PM JANMAN across the country.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs has launched Dharti Aaba Janjati Gram Unnat Abhiyan (DAJGUA)
aimed at improving the socio-economic condition of tribal communities by adopting
saturation coverage of tribal families in tribal majority areas and aspirational block ST
villages. The intervention of Ministry of Women and Child Development involves
establishment of 2000 new Saksham AWCs and upgradation of 6000 existing AWCs into
Saksham AWCs from FY 2024-25 to FY 2028-29. State wise details.
Under the Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi (PBPB) initiative, the Ministry is imparting training to all
the officials and field functionaries in the States/ UTs through a cascading model of training,
wherein Master Trainers (namely, District Officers, Block Coordinators and Supervisors) are
trained and the master trainers further train all Anganwadi Workers in the field. As on 28
July 2025, 5, 71,667 AWWs have been trained across the country.
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 for children since 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 15.5
NFHS-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 (June 2025) *** 37 15.9 5.4
* Under 4 years
** Under 3 years
*** Under 5 years
The above table gives a representative picture of malnutrition indicators among all children
of 0-3 years, 0-4 years and 0-5 years age at the relevant time.
The projected population of all children up to 5 years in India for the year 2021 is 13.75
crores approximately (source: Population Projections for India and States 2011-2036,
National Commission on Population, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare). However, only
7.36 crores children up to 5 years were enrolled in Anganwadis and registered on Poshan
Tracker of the Ministry of Women & Child Development as per the June, 2025 data. 7 crores
of these children were measured on growth parameters of height and weight. 37.07% of
them have been found to be stunted, 15.93% have been found to be underweight and 5.46%
wasted.
The analysis of the above NFHS data and the Poshan Tracker data shows improvement in
malnutrition indicators in children across India.
The State/UT wise data on Stunting, wasting and underweight can be accessed from the
link: https://www.poshantracker.in/statistics.
Details of status of funds released to States and UTs under Saksham Anganwadi and
Mission Poshan 2.0 are placed at Annexure.
*****Annexure
ANNEXURE REFERRED IN REPLY TO PART (d) OF LOKSABHA QUESTION NO. 3270
FOR 08.08.2025 REGARDING “INTEGRATED CHILD DEVELOPMENT SERVICES IN
TRIBAL AREAS”
Details of funds released under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 during last
five years are as follows:
Rs. In Crores
Name of the 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25
State Funds Funds Funds Funds Funds Funds
released released released released released released
1 Andaman and 14.98 16.37 19.71 3.85 12.15 9.63
Nicobar
Islands
2 Andhra 825.24 701.82 744.60 827.79 705.68 645.73
Pradesh
3 Arunachal 134.71 82.92 170.83 137.78 162.06 102.61
Pradesh
4 Assam 1365.53 1109.75 1319.90 1651.63 2233.31 2482.34
5 Bihar 1539.37 1288.98 1574.43 1740.09 1859.29 2262.92
6 Chandigarh 17.03 13.35 15.32 33.10 19.79 14.56
7 Chhattisgarh 483.88 513.95 606.73 668.96 579.46 733.3
8 Dadra & 17.20 9.02 9.33 5.80 11.97 9.13
Nagar Haveli
and Daman &
Diu
9 Delhi 133.06 102.70 133.11 182.77 161.81 160.41
10 Goa 16.02 20.44 10.84 14.71 13.95 13.44
11 Gujarat 854.00 633.13 839.86 912.64 1126.80 601.32
12 Haryana 181.00 185.29 173.03 195.25 225.78 232.69
13 Himachal 251.82 258.55 247.99 270.24 301.09 313.07
Pradesh
14 Jammu & 332.85 294.17 405.74 479.01 530.88 662.79
Kashmir
15 Jharkhand 436.10 464.33 352.98 430.91 664.30 496.95
16 Karnataka 861.87 697.17 1003.70 765.87 912.96 886.85
17 Kerala 321.42 352.03 388.23 444.98 306.64 435.74
18 Ladakh 0.00 24.18 14.70 18.79 19.62 18.89
19 Lakshadweep 2.59 3.06 2.11 0.44 2.88 1.35
20 Madhya 1225.60 1238.06 1085.47 1011.57 1123.11 1144.54
Pradesh
21 Maharashtra 1669.40 1205.99 1713.39 1646.17 1699.52 1368.84
22 Manipur 162.54 175.77 228.92 135.95 201.28 342.87
23 Meghalaya 225.66 177.92 173.33 192.39 269.69 137.93
24 Mizoram 63.26 74.60 59.32 42.81 100.27 55.29
25 Nagaland 178.92 167.23 159.80 199.30 262.91 147.01
26 Odisha 860.66 858.68 1065.98 923.92 968.80 948.16
27 Puducherry 9.86 4.38 2.78 0.12 4.48 3.6828 Punjab 201.44 174.71 383.52 75.31 307.87 265.48
29 Rajasthan 673.95 641.77 682.65 974.02 1091.96 741.85
30 Sikkim 29.47 24.50 25.73 20.33 33.49 18.07
31 Tamil Nadu 764.73 619.43 655.38 766.81 880.79 638.47
32 Telangana 529.96 405.32 482.33 550.69 507.87 430.76
33 Tripura 166.47 154.16 186.72 150.52 244.22 153.41
34 Uttar Pradesh 2544.00 2017.49 2407.55 2721.87 2668.69 2694.62
35 Uttarakhand 373.96 327.92 353.65 425.84 288.24 216.33
36 West Bengal 1165.26 1066.64 668.35 1227.59 1237.56 1513.8
Total 18633.81 16105.78 18368.01 19849.82 21741.17 20904.83
******