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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 987
ANSWERED ON 24.07.2026
NUTRITION DISTRIBUTION AT ANGANWADI CENTRES
987. SHRI RAJKUMAR ROAT:
Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the nutrition being provided at Anganwadi Centres in the country, indicating
the annual budget allocated by the Government therefor and food items being distributed,
State-wise;
(b) the States where the nutrition distribution process is being carried out through Self-Help
Groups (SHGs) along with the procedure being followed in remaining States and the
mechanism adopted for quality checking of nutrition in the said States, indicating quality
check reports for Rajasthan during the last five years;
(c) whether earlier nutrition items were prepared and distributed by SHGs whereas currently, a
contractual system through a tender process has been put in place, which has led to a
significant decline in quality in Rajasthan, if so, the details thereof; and
(d) whether the Government proposes to distribute nutrition items through Self-Help Groups in
all the States, if so, the details thereof along with the time by which it is likely to be done and
if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI SAVITRI THAKUR)
(a) to (d): Under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 (Mission Poshan 2.0),
Supplementary Nutrition is provided to children under 6 years of age, pregnant women, lactating
mothers and adolescent girls (14-18 years in Aspirational Districts and North-Eastern region) to
improve nutritional outcomes. Supplementary Nutrition is provided at all Anganwadi Centres in
the country in the form of Take-Home Ration (THR), Morning Snacks and Hot Cooked Meals(HCM) to the beneficiaries in accordance with the nutrition norms specified under Schedule-II of
the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013.
The States and Union Territories (UTs) are encouraged to decide menu and recipes suitable to the
local tastes and conditions and to procure locally grown food items like millets, vegetables,
condiments, etc. The selection of ingredients, recipes and menu for Supplementary Nutrition rests
with States and UTs in accordance with local palate and includes locally available cereals/millets,
pulses, vegetables, nuts and fats. The State-wise details of funds released for the implementation
of Supplementary Nutrition Programme is at Annexure.
Mission Poshan 2.0 is a Centrally Sponsored Mission where the responsibility for implementation
lies with the respective States and UTs. Accordingly, the States and UTs are free to decide upon
the model of procurement, including involvement of SHGs in the scheme, in case. The Ministry
of Women and Child Development (MoWCD), vide notification dated 12th September 2022,
issued the Integrated Nutrition Support Programme - Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan (2.0), Rules
2022, to regulate the entitlements specified under the provisions of NFSA, 2013 for every pregnant
woman and lactating mother, till six months after childbirth and every child in the age group of six
months to six years. As per these rules, States and UTs have been advised to introduce transparent
process for procurement as per General Financial Rules, 2017 and applicable Vigilance Guidelines
and other norms issued from time to time by the Government of India. States and UTs also need
to ensure that THR procured, conforms to nutritional norms set by the Government of India.
Recently, MoWCD vide letter no. PA/178/2024-CPMU dated 14th July 2026, issued the
Comprehensive Guidelines for Supplementary Nutrition Programme, which emphasize that States
and UTs to ensure the quality of Supplementary Nutrition being provided to the beneficiaries in
accordance with the food safety norms. Regular testing through Food Safety and Standard
Authority of India (FSSAI) recognized laboratories/ National Accreditation Board for Testing and
Calibration Laboratories (NABL) accredited laboratories is to be conducted.
As informed by the State of Rajasthan, supply of Supplementary Nutrition from Self Help Groups
(SHGs) is being done on a pilot basis to five ICDS projects. In remaining 358 ICDS projects of
the State, supplementary nutrition is being supplied by the Rajasthan State Cooperative Consumers
Federation Limited (CONFED). Since 2022–23, all samples of supplementary nutrition supplied
by CONFED have been found to conform to the prescribed quality standards in NABL laboratory
testing. Therefore, no decline in quality has been observed by the State authorities.
*****Annexure
FUNDS RELEASED UNDER MISSION SAKSHAM ANGANWADI AND POSHAN 2.0
FOR FY 2025-26
(Rupees in crores)
Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0
S. No. Name of the State/UT Funds released - 2025-26
1 Andaman and Nicobar Islands 8.1
2 Andhra Pradesh 759.76
3 Arunachal Pradesh 118.5
4 Assam 1548.67
5 Bihar 905.43
6 Chandigarh 9.87
7 Chhattisgarh 518.22
8 Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu 5.92
9 Delhi 150.21
10 Goa 19.74
11 Gujarat 699.13
12 Haryana 67.12
13 Himachal Pradesh 328.59
14 Jammu & Kashmir 401.62
15 Jharkhand 429.26
16 Karnataka 863.64
17 Kerala 283.81
18 Ladakh 16.41
19 Lakshadweep 0.82
20 Madhya Pradesh 937.45
21 Maharashtra 1405.45
22 Manipur 199.9923 Meghalaya 182.04
24 Mizoram 52.69
25 Nagaland 146.29
26 Odisha 911.27
27 Puducherry 4.02
28 Punjab 190.73
29 Rajasthan 843.51
30 Sikkim 18.21
31 Tamil Nadu 636.6
32 Telangana 209.2
33 Tripura 154.73
34 Uttar Pradesh 2145.42
35 Uttarakhand 271.05
36 West Bengal 1333.9
Total 16777.37
*****