**Executive Summary**
This document is an answer to Unstarred Question No. 2267 in Lok Sabha concerning the objectives, implementation, and evaluation of Poshan Abhiyan in Tamil Nadu. The response, provided by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Women and Child Development, indicates that Poshan Abhiyan, now subsumed under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, is being implemented across the country, including Tamil Nadu. Data from various National Family Health Surveys (NFHS) and the Poshan Tracker demonstrate improvement in malnutrition indicators. The question was to be answered on 12.12.2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Poshan Abhiyan Framework:**
* Launched in 2018 and now part of Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0.
* A Centrally Sponsored Mission with implementation responsibility on States and UTs.
* Universal scheme open to beneficiaries like children under 6 years, pregnant women, lactating mothers (up to 6 months), and adolescent girls (14-18 years) in North-Eastern States and Aspirational Districts.
* **Mission Objectives:**
* Contribute to the development of human capital.
* Address the challenge of malnutrition.
* Promote nutrition awareness and good eating habits.
* **Implementation in Tamil Nadu:**
* District-wise implementation status is available online.
* 54,481 Anganwadi Centres are operational in Tamil Nadu.
* **Evaluation and Outcomes:**
* NFHS data shows improvement in malnutrition indicators across India.
* Poshan Tracker data also demonstrates improvement in malnutrition indicators in Tamil Nadu between October 2022 and October 2025.
* World Bank survey in 2021 indicated improved nutrition behaviours linked to Poshan Abhiyan services.
* NITI Aayog evaluation in 2020 and 2025 deems Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 as satisfactory for tackling malnutrition, including in Tamil Nadu.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Governments and UTs**
* **Impact:** Responsible for implementing Poshan Abhiyan and achieving its objectives within their respective regions.
* **Action Required:** Continue implementing the scheme effectively, monitor progress using Poshan Tracker, and address any identified gaps in nutrition services.
**Beneficiaries (Children under 6 years, Pregnant women, Lactating Mothers, Adolescent girls)**
* **Impact:** Directly benefit from the improved nutrition services, awareness programs, and eating habits promoted by the mission.
* **Action Required:** Participate in Anganwadi programs, adopt recommended nutrition practices, and seek available healthcare services.
**Ministry of Women and Child Development**
* **Impact:** Accountable for the overall success of Poshan Abhiyan and for addressing parliamentary queries regarding its effectiveness.
* **Action Required:** Monitor the program's progress across the country, conduct regular evaluations, and make necessary adjustments to ensure the achievement of its objectives.
Key Entities Referenced
Poshan Abhiyan: A program focused on improving nutritional outcomes for children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers.
Ministry of Women and Child Development: The central ministry responsible for the Poshan Abhiyan program.
Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0: An umbrella scheme under which Poshan Abhiyan has been subsumed.
Anganwadi Services: Services provided through Anganwadi centers related to nutrition and childcare.
Tamil Nadu: Indian state referenced in the question regarding Poshan Abhiyan's implementation and impact.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2267
TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.12.2025
POSHAN ABHIYAN
2267. SHRI SASIKANTH SENTHIL:
Will the Minister of Women and Child Development be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has been able to achieve the key objectives of Poshan Abhiyan
in Tamil Nadu, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
(b) the number of Anganwadi Centres in said State where Poshan Abhiyan is currently
being implemented, district-wise; and
(c) whether the Ministry has conducted any evaluation/study on the outcomes of this
scheme in the said State, if so, the details along with the findings thereof and if not, the
reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI SAVITRI THAKUR)
(a): Poshan Abhiyan was launched in 2018 which has been subsumed under the umbrella
Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 along with Anganwadi Services and Scheme for
Adolescent girls (14-18 years, in Aspirational Districts and North-Eastern region). 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 open
to all eligible beneficiaries, i.e., Children under 6 years of age, pregnant women, lactating
mothers till 6 months after childbirth and adolescent girls (14-18 years of age) in Northeastern
States and Aspirational Districts of the country. This Mission is being implemented across the
country including the State of Tamil Nadu.
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
wellbeing(b): District wise status of implementation of the Scheme in the State of Tamil Nadu is
available at https://www.poshantracker.in/statistics. A total of 54,481 Anganwadi Centres are
operational in the State of Tamil Nadu.
(c): The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) is a large-scale, multi-round survey
conducted in a representative sample of households throughout India. It provides report on
fertility, infant and child mortality, the practice of family planning, maternal and child health,
reproductive health, nutrition, anaemia, utilization and quality of health and family planning
services. 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 15.5
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 (October 2025) *** 33.54 14.41 5.03
* Under 4 years
** Under 3 years
*** Under 5 years
The analysis of the above NFHS data and the Poshan Tracker data shows improvement in
malnutrition indicators in children across the country including the State of Tamil Nadu.
Further, from the Poshan Tracker, the status of nutritional indicators and its improvement over
the years in the State of Tamil Nadu may be seen below:
Poshan Tracker Data for the State of Tamil Nadu
October- October- October-
October-25
Indicators 22 23 24
Stunted Children (%) 22.59 16.57 13.39 11.56
Wasted Children (%) 6.05 4.75 3.57 3.32
Underweight Children (%) 10.53 8.08 7.06 5.77In 2021, the World Bank conducted a survey in 11 priority States (Andhra Pradesh, Bihar,
Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil
Nadu and Uttar Pradesh) to assess the program’s delivery of nutrition services. The findings
demonstrated that the services delivered under the 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.
A third-party evaluation and impact assessment of Poshan Abhiyaan was conducted by NITI
Aayog in 2020 and also in 2025 for Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 and has found its
relevance to be satisfactory for tackling malnutrition in the country including Tamil Nadu.
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